tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61693123276755767362012-03-09T21:10:56.497-06:00And a lot less fun than the other options.Amber DiTulliohttps://profiles.google.com/110383382274245312911noreply@blogger.comBlogger4181100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6169312327675576736.post-74936017781036987572012-03-09T21:10:00.000-06:002012-03-09T21:10:56.512-06:00<br /><br /><br /><center><a href="http://fivecrookedhalos.blogspot.com/" target="_blank" title="Five Question Friday"><img border="0" img="" src="http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt155/fivecrookedhalos/th_w6r0jk.png" /></a></center><center><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">Mama M has a weekly meme that helps us get to know one another a little better. &nbsp;Every Friday, she posts five questions. &nbsp;Then it's up to you to answer them, link back on her blog,&nbsp;<a href="http://fivecrookedhalos.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">My Little Life</a>&nbsp;and, above all, have fun.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">So, here are the five questions for today and my answers.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><br /><b><br /></b><br /><b>1. Are you looking forward to the time change this weekend?</b><br /><b><br /></b><br />Gods, no! &nbsp;This weekend is&nbsp;<a href="http://sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com/2012/03/so-much-so-little-pyho.html" target="_blank">my birthday</a>&nbsp;so I will, in essence, lose an our of celebrating my birthday. &nbsp;Grrrrr....<br /><b><br /></b><br /><b>2. Are you getting the new iPad/would you want a iPad?</b><br /><b><br /></b><br />I used to want one, but I'm actually pretty happy with my Kindle Fire. &nbsp;Yeah, I can't get a lot of the same apps, but I still get a lot of fun out of it. &nbsp;That's the important part.<br /><b><br /></b><br /><b>3. If money was not a problem, what is the one thing you would splurge on?</b><br /><b><br /></b><br />I would travel to <a href="http://www.dragoncon.org/" target="_blank">Dragon*Con</a>. &nbsp;It's a con that I've wanted to attend for a long, long time and I just never seem to have the money to go and do it right. <br /><br />Or maybe I'd pay to have a site redesign for here and&nbsp;<a href="http://viewsfromthereaderside.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Views from the Reader Side</a>. Yes, I AM a geek. &nbsp;Why do you ask?<br /><b><br /></b><br /><b>4. How did you and the Mr. (or Mrs.) meet?</b><br /><b><br /></b><br />I thought I'd written about Rich and my meeting before, but the only thing I could find was a post about&nbsp;<a href="http://sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com/2011/07/memories-monday-hot-day-in-july.html" target="_blank">the day he asked me to marry him.</a>&nbsp; So I get to talk about the meeting now. &nbsp;And I don't mind, because it's such a great story.<br /><br />I met Rich on a message board system in 2001. &nbsp;It was more a geek board than a dating board, though several relationships and marriages came from being a part of this board. &nbsp;When we first met virtually, it was because we found each other commenting in the same threads fairly regularly. &nbsp;Over the course of the next year, we became friends. &nbsp;Not good friends, but friendly. &nbsp;I was dating someone else at the time, so I wasn't looking for love.<br /><br />Then came January, 2002. &nbsp;There was a get together in New York of members of the board. &nbsp;This was an annual thing and always brought in a pretty big crowd. &nbsp;I was living in New York at the time, so I opened my apartment to a couple of friends, one of which was Rich. &nbsp;We had a fantastic time that weekend, learning a lot about each other and getting closer. &nbsp;It was a good friendship.<br /><br />Not long after he went back home to Philadelphia and I realized that things weren't going well with my boyfriend. &nbsp;For my own sanity, I ended it with him. &nbsp;I was chatting with Rich online, telling him about how I broke up with my now-ex and that I just wanted to <i>date</i>&nbsp;for a little while. &nbsp;I wasn't even thinking of him at the time, but he pointed out that he was available. &nbsp;He came back to New York in a couple weeks and from that point forward, I knew that I was in love and that I'd found the person I wanted to spend the rest of my life with.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/2638_57998363837_672473837_1471972_1132742_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/2638_57998363837_672473837_1471972_1132742_n.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br /><b><br /></b><br /><b>5. Summer is right around the corner. Bikini or one-piece?</b><br /><b><br /></b><br />Do you see the body in the picture up there? &nbsp;The one that is in the size 20 dress? &nbsp;Well, I'm bigger now than I was then. &nbsp;If it isn't a one piece, I'm not going out!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6169312327675576736-7493601778103698757?l=sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Amber DiTulliohttps://profiles.google.com/110383382274245312911noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6169312327675576736.post-53517208820130578182012-03-07T16:58:00.000-06:002012-03-07T16:58:23.391-06:00<i>"We had joy, we had fun, we had seasons in the sun."</i><br /><i><br /></i><br />The refrain plays through my mind as I drive south, remembering. &nbsp;Remembering the good times, when love was new and I didn't want to be apart from you for a minute. &nbsp;You were a part of me, a part that I hadn't known I was missing until you stepped into my life.<br /><br />I can still feel your hand grasping mine that first time in the darkness of the theater. &nbsp;My heart fluttered in my chest and all I could think was, "This isn't happening. &nbsp;It can't be." &nbsp;But it was and so I was yours and you were mine.<br /><br />I know the times weren't all good. &nbsp;We had our share of fights, of heartache and pain. &nbsp;But we managed to get through it together. &nbsp;Until one day, we just couldn't.<br /><br />I still don't know what happened. &nbsp;You became distant. &nbsp;Or maybe I did. &nbsp;All I know is that I woke up one day and something was different. &nbsp;When I told you, "I love you," the words words felt foreign on my lips. &nbsp;When you repeated them back, they held a note of insincerity.<br /><br />Would we have worked it out? &nbsp;Would we have been able to work past this? &nbsp;Who's to say. Now it's too late to ever know. <br /><br />But I like to think that somewhere, some other you and some other me did work it out. &nbsp;Our other selves didn't allow the distance to remain but fought for what they once held. &nbsp;The other me never had to be without the other you.<br /><br />I slow as I come to the gates of the&nbsp;cemetery, but speed up again without turning in. &nbsp;I've said all there is to say.<br /><br /><a border="0" href="http://writeonedge.com/red-writing-hood/" target="_blank"><img alt="Write On Edge: Red-Writing-Hood" src="http://writeonedge.com/wp-content/images/redWritingHoodButton.jpg" style="border: 0;" /></a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6169312327675576736-5351720882013057818?l=sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Amber DiTulliohttps://profiles.google.com/110383382274245312911noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6169312327675576736.post-26145869644244062792012-03-07T12:47:00.000-06:002012-03-07T12:47:12.413-06:00On Sunday, I will turn 38.<br /><br />38 years of trying to figure out this thing called life.<br /><br />456 months of doing the best I can.<br /><br />13, 880 days of making decisions that affect the course of my life.<br /><br />333, 120 hours of growing and learning.<br /><br />19, 987, 200 minutes that have been filled with moments both cherished and forgotten.<br /><br /><br />Sometimes I'm proud to be turning 38. &nbsp;After all, I've been alive for almost 4 decades. &nbsp;I've seen a lot and done a lot in that time. &nbsp;I've seen the world change from large push button machines to ones that you can hold in the palm of your hand while you swipe your finger across the machine. &nbsp;I've seen fashion go from leg warmers and jelly shoes to ripped jeans and flannel to... well, whatever kids are wearing now. &nbsp;I've listened to the music of Alabama and Rick Springfield, Reba McEntyre and Queensryche, JoDee Messina and They Might Be Giants, Carrie Underwood and Lady Gaga. &nbsp;I've gone from surprising my teachers that I could read in kindergarten to my son's teacher being surprised not that he can read, but how well he can read. &nbsp;I've moved from a small town in New York to a larger town in Florida to one of the biggest cities in the country to the capital of my state. &nbsp;I've fallen in love, had my heart broken and broken a few hearts along the way. &nbsp;I've learned who I am and what I want from life. &nbsp;I've met the man of my dreams and, with him, brought two wonderful boys into the world. &nbsp;I've had a good 38 years.<br /><br />But there are other times where I wonder where the 38 years have gone. &nbsp;I still remember waiting at my bus stop in first grade, holding on to my "briefcase" that held my pencils and paper for school. &nbsp;I can remember fighting with my sister, hurting her sometimes but also being afraid when she would really get hurt. &nbsp;I remember standing up for her, but not being able to stand up for myself. &nbsp;I remember my first boyfriend, and my first kiss. And I remember how heart broken I was when I found out that he was only dating me because of a bet or something. &nbsp;I remember my first love and the heart break I felt when my parents wouldn't let us date any longer. &nbsp;I remember getting ready for college, getting scared out of my wits during Honors Weekend when some friends and I found evil. &nbsp;I remember being able to run without getting winded, being able to move without pain. &nbsp;I remember fitting into size 9 clothes (and feeling so good when I did). &nbsp;I remember being on my own and going back to my parents. &nbsp;I remember being innocent and trusting. &nbsp;I remember being rewarded, and getting hurt.<br /><br />But mostly, I remember my dreams that never came true. &nbsp;I dreamed of being a teacher. &nbsp;I loved my teachers in school. &nbsp;I loved the knowledge they imparted and how they made things fun. &nbsp;I loved teaching things to my friends and I just <i>knew</i>&nbsp;I could be a great teacher. &nbsp;But when I actually got into the schools for the mentoring program in college, I couldn't handle it. &nbsp;I was used to people that wanted to learn. &nbsp;I went in blind. &nbsp;And it was too much for me. &nbsp;So teaching became a broken dream.<br /><br />I remember the three men I imagined spending the rest of my life with. &nbsp;The first, my first love that still holds a tender place in my heart. &nbsp;The second, a man that demeaned me but I was convinced that I was destined to be with. The third, a man who had no confidence in himself which made it difficult to be with him. &nbsp;Each dream, shattered in time.<br /><br />I remember thinking I'd be a perfect mom and housekeeper. &nbsp;I knew what it was like to be on the receiving end of getting yelled at and I'd <i>never</i>&nbsp;do that to my kids. &nbsp;But I find myself yelling when angry, feeling like I'm losing control. &nbsp;I hear the words, "Because I said so," coming out of my mouth when I swore I never would say them. &nbsp;I see the disaster that is my home and wonder where I went wrong.<br /><br />This wasn't the life I thought I'd have 10, 15, 20, even 30 years ago. &nbsp;In some ways, it's better. &nbsp;I have a man that understands me, supports me and loves me falling asleep next to me every night. &nbsp;I have two little boys who tell me they love me more than the whole wide world. &nbsp;I have family close by without being on top of me, and friends that are just a message away. &nbsp;I hadn't seen where the internet was going when I made my life plans, and it's invention has given me more than I could ever imagine. &nbsp;Those are the good things.<br /><br />But I'm also not where I want to be, financially and personally. &nbsp;Don't get me wrong. &nbsp;I don't mean my physical location or the people in my life. &nbsp;Those are some of the best parts of the last 38 years. &nbsp;But where <i>I</i>&nbsp;want to be is something I can't figure out. &nbsp;I was sure that by the time I was 38, I'd know what I wanted to do with my life. &nbsp;I'd have something that I could look at and say, "I'm good at that. &nbsp;This is what I want." &nbsp;Instead, I feel like I'm floundering around from one thing to the next. &nbsp;I throw myself into crafting for a few months, then it feels old. &nbsp;I start blogging and love it... but then feel overwhelmed by the things I want to add. &nbsp;I start writing - fiction, non-fiction, it doesn't matter. &nbsp;But even that feels more of a requirement than a joy. &nbsp;So I have this feeling of&nbsp;dissatisfaction&nbsp;because I'm convinced that, by now, I should have answers to all these things. &nbsp;But I don't. &nbsp;And I'm not sure if I ever will. &nbsp;And I'm not okay with that but I also don't know how to fix it.<br /><br />But the biggest thing that bothers me as I get older is the same thing that bothered me as a child - death. &nbsp;There were a couple decades where I didn't think about death. &nbsp;I didn't think about what was waiting for me in the afterlife or what I would do without certain people in my life. &nbsp;Death wasn't personal. &nbsp;But now, I'm seeing friends and loved ones pass away. &nbsp;People that aren't that much older than me leaving behind loved ones. &nbsp;My step-mother passed away 3 years ago and I've had to watch my father deal with her loss. &nbsp;And her death makes me think of how much or how little time my Daddy has left and what I'll do when he's gone. &nbsp;I worry that something will happen to me and my boys won't have the chance to know me. &nbsp;I worry that something will happen to them and I'll shatter. &nbsp;I worry because my belief in the afterlife is that what happens is what you <i>want</i>&nbsp;to happen (heaven, hell, rebirth, nothing) and because of this philosophy, I don't know what will happen to me. &nbsp;I'm afraid of being forgotten and forgetting.<br /><br />38 years. &nbsp;So much. So little. <br /><br /><br /><a href="http://thingsicantsay.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://thingsicantsay.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/pouryourheart1.png" /></a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6169312327675576736-2614586964424406279?l=sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Amber DiTulliohttps://profiles.google.com/110383382274245312911noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6169312327675576736.post-16140768541773836842012-03-07T11:51:00.002-06:002012-03-07T11:51:49.552-06:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AU4ukdi4HJI/T1efjRsKOBI/AAAAAAAAHm8/spMNzGT4fDo/s1600/DSCN0006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AU4ukdi4HJI/T1efjRsKOBI/AAAAAAAAHm8/spMNzGT4fDo/s320/DSCN0006.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4us3zZF8tlY/T1efkGXJyoI/AAAAAAAAHnE/opObKxNg2ck/s1600/DSCN0008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4us3zZF8tlY/T1efkGXJyoI/AAAAAAAAHnE/opObKxNg2ck/s320/DSCN0008.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AQyHmZn8Izo/T1efoN-qwEI/AAAAAAAAHns/1U4zuDXepEw/s1600/DSCN0014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AQyHmZn8Izo/T1efoN-qwEI/AAAAAAAAHns/1U4zuDXepEw/s320/DSCN0014.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_-s4fguKyfI/T1efq8dAo1I/AAAAAAAAHoM/hezkaOPd7tw/s1600/DSCN0018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_-s4fguKyfI/T1efq8dAo1I/AAAAAAAAHoM/hezkaOPd7tw/s320/DSCN0018.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6169312327675576736-1614076854177383684?l=sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Amber DiTulliohttps://profiles.google.com/110383382274245312911noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6169312327675576736.post-65575841731217734902012-03-05T17:00:00.001-06:002012-03-05T17:00:47.246-06:00Teddy has been a Pokemon fanatic for the last few years. &nbsp;It started by watching Daddy play Pokemon on the DS and on the computer. Then it moved to watching the show, getting the toys and stuffed animals and being able to quote Pokemon moves chapter and verse. &nbsp;For the last six months or so, he's actually gotten into the Pokemon TCG. &nbsp;At first, it was just cool to look at the Pokemon cards and see what moves were there. &nbsp;Then, when watching Daddy play with my nephew, Robbie, Teddy started wanting to play as well. &nbsp;We started with pre-made decks and, for awhile, that wasn't too bad. &nbsp;He wasn't ready to play anyone other than Daddy.<br /><br />But then we took him to the pre-release for the newest expansion, Next Destinies, held at&nbsp;<a href="http://outerlimitsboro.com/" target="_blank">Outer Limits Boro</a>. &nbsp;We'd been to one of the&nbsp;<a href="http://www.facebook.com/groups/127517646871/" target="_blank">Pokemon Nashville League</a>&nbsp;events before, but it had been awhile. &nbsp;That had been like a toe dipped into the water. &nbsp;The pre-release was more like cannonballing into the deep end.<br /><br />Even though Teddy was the youngest player there (and, quite probably, is the youngest in the league), he was welcomed with open arms, playing against others in the junior division and being supported by the older players when one of his matches went into sudden death. &nbsp;He didn't win much, but he also didn't care. &nbsp;The fun was in the playing. &nbsp;I was actually really proud of him, because, being six, he has a tendency to get upset when things don't go his way. &nbsp;But he just shook the hands of his fellow players, said, "Good game" and went on to the next bit of play. <br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5mnH-JG2QQQ/T1U9fCBXtRI/AAAAAAAAHmE/__PuG0Zdwq4/s1600/DSCN1379.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5mnH-JG2QQQ/T1U9fCBXtRI/AAAAAAAAHmE/__PuG0Zdwq4/s320/DSCN1379.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That's Teddy on the end on the right. &nbsp;It was his last match of the day.</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Because of his good sportsmanship, we decided that we'd try taking him to the Sunday League meeting up in Madison. &nbsp;And, while the first week we went he didn't have a lot of people wanting to play with him, his visit this past weekend gave us a glimpse into his future.<div><br /></div><div>Along with the usual "get together and play", there is a six-week program for some of the younger players called&nbsp;<a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/CATCH-Six/293602830704456?sk=wall" target="_blank">Catch-Six</a>, designed to teach life skills through Pokemon. &nbsp;We figured that it would be a good thing for Teddy to participate in, maybe helping him with some of the issues typical for six year old boys. &nbsp;We missed the first week because we had something else going on that weekend, but Rich took Teddy for week two this past weekend. &nbsp;And Teddy made a great impression. &nbsp;Even though he's the youngest, he had the best recall of any of the kids in the program. &nbsp;It was a great start for him, and I was proud of him when Rich told me about it later.</div><div><br /></div><div>After the Catch Six program, Teddy went among the players to find people to play against and had a fantastic time, as we knew he would. &nbsp;There were a lot of people getting ready for&nbsp;<a href="http://pokegym.net/forums/showthread.php?t=160398" target="_blank">State</a>&nbsp;next weekend, trying out their decks and getting a feel for how they'd play. &nbsp;We weren't going to bring Teddy to States, knowing that he's still very much a beginning player with a less-than-optimal deck. &nbsp;We knew that he'd have no chance of doing well and we didn't want to see him disappointed.</div><div><br /></div><div>But Rich was talking with Professor Rick (the coordinator of the Nashville area League) and he encouraged us to bring him anyway. &nbsp;Yes, he probably wouldn't win. &nbsp;He needs to work on strategy more than what he has so far. &nbsp;But it would be great practice. &nbsp;Teddy is in the junior league, which runs up to age 10, and Rick predicted that by the time he was 9 or 10, he could walk away with all of it. &nbsp;He's got the knowledge, he just needs to work on the strategy and get the good decks together. &nbsp;That will come in time. &nbsp;So getting him to more events like State will only help him in the long run. &nbsp;To help him have the best experience possible, Rick also gave Rich (it gets confusing with these same names) cards for Teddy to help build his deck.</div><div><br /></div><div>So next Saturday, we'll all be embarking on a new journey. Teddy will be attending his first honest-to-God competition. &nbsp;And I'll be bringing him to his first honest-to-God competition. &nbsp;I suspect it will be the first of many. &nbsp;And I'm actually looking forward to it. &nbsp;Is it what I was planning on doing for my birthday weekend? &nbsp;No, of course not. &nbsp;But do I mind? &nbsp;Not in the least. &nbsp;Because what better gift could I get than to see my eldest happy, doing something he enjoys?<br /><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6169312327675576736-6557584173121773490?l=sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Amber DiTulliohttps://profiles.google.com/110383382274245312911noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6169312327675576736.post-21184047755922578442012-03-05T09:59:00.000-06:002012-03-05T09:59:16.716-06:00<a href="http://www.northwestmommy.com/category/monday-listicles" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.northwestmommy.com/home/Listicle3.jpg" /></a>&nbsp;Today's topic on Monday Listicles (hosted by&nbsp;<a href="http://www.northwestmommy.com/" target="_blank">Stasha at The Good Life</a>&nbsp;and inspired by&nbsp;<a href="http://www.mytimeasmom.com/" target="_blank">Jessica at My Time as Mom</a>) are 10 Things You Can't Do. &nbsp;Sadly, I'm really good at listing my shortcomings. &nbsp;But hopefully, I'll be working these listicles more in future, so you'll hear some positives as well.<br /><br /><br /><ol><li><b>Phone Calls </b>I have a serious phobia about the phone. &nbsp;I dread having to pick up the phone and call people - even people I know well, some of the time. &nbsp;What if I'm interrupting them? &nbsp;What if I sound like a complete idiot when I need to ask something important? &nbsp;What if what if what if? &nbsp;I'm not much better in person (or when people call me), but I can force myself in those instances. &nbsp;I'm incredibly grateful for the invention of the internet and e-mail, because it lets me avoid my phobia for other means of contact.</li><li><b>Cooking</b>&nbsp;Ok, if I actually <i>tried</i>&nbsp;I might get better at it. &nbsp;But I don't like cooking so I don't try it as often as I should. &nbsp;I haven't figured out how to spice things properly so I usually end up not spicing them at all and they come out bland. &nbsp;Luckily, my husband likes to cook... though he's trying to push me toward cooking more so he doesn't have to. Because if he didn't cook, it would probably be fast food and instant meals more often than not.</li><li><b>Housework</b>&nbsp;I try to keep on top of things but I suck royally. &nbsp;I was much better at it before being married with children - I could keep up with the clutter of one person. &nbsp;But trying to keep up with the clutter of four (because my husband doesn't see the need for neatness) is beyond my ability. &nbsp;I keep trying to find a way to organize myself and my life but so far, no luck. &nbsp;This, of course brings me to...</li><li><b>Organization</b>&nbsp;Again, I can't seem to get on top of this. &nbsp;I make lists. &nbsp;TONS of lists. &nbsp;I make schedules. I read books and websites about organization. &nbsp;But does it help? &nbsp;Of course not. &nbsp;When it comes to this, I think it's overload. &nbsp;I'm just trying too many things at once. &nbsp;What I really need is to get someone to come in, sit down with me for a month, and help me figure out a system for my life. &nbsp;But that's not likely to happen.</li><li><b>Backing into a parking space</b><i style="font-weight: bold;">&nbsp;</i>I don't know what it is, but when it comes to backing up, I completely suck. &nbsp;I can't seem to make it between the two lines without trying about 30 times. &nbsp;Woe to anyone who is within about 3 spaces on either side. &nbsp;It's why I don't parallel park and I try to find somewhere that I can pull through in a parking lot.</li><li><b>Remembering important things</b><i style="font-weight: bold;">&nbsp;</i>I blame this one on my kids. &nbsp;I'm convinced that both of them sucked memory and smarts out of me while they were in the womb. &nbsp;It's the only reasonable explanation as to why I used to have brains and a memory and don't any longer.</li><li><b>Growing Things</b><i style="font-weight: bold;">&nbsp;</i>I try. &nbsp;Really I do. &nbsp;I've tried flowers, herbs, vegetables, you name it. &nbsp;I manage to kill them all. &nbsp;I even killed a cactus in college. &nbsp;Yes, my thumb is thoroughly black.</li><li><b>Patience</b><i style="font-weight: bold;">&nbsp;</i>My patience is far lower than it should be for someone who wants to be crafty and is the mom to two boys. &nbsp;Sometimes I'll have flashes where I can explain over and over again something to my kids, but more often than not, I just want to get them out of my hair or be finished with something as quickly as I can.</li><li><b>Fighting Depression</b><i style="font-weight: bold;">&nbsp;</i>I've suffered from depression for a long time. You'd think I know ways to keep myself from sinking in. &nbsp;But no... far more regularly than I would like, I allow myself to sink into it's depths and stay there. &nbsp;I know I should fight it, but it's too hard sometimes and I just can't force myself to do it.</li><li><b>Staying on Top of Things</b><i style="font-weight: bold;">&nbsp;</i>I'm usually good for about a week. &nbsp;I keep on top of cleaning. &nbsp;I get my books reviewed right after I've read them. &nbsp;I get swaps out early. &nbsp;I clean out my e-mail on a daily basis. &nbsp;I post for my blogs daily. I do the memes that I enjoy doing. I read my favorite RSS feeds through my Google Reader or Feed Squares or whatever. &nbsp;Then something gets missed for a day. &nbsp;Then another day. &nbsp;And another. &nbsp;Next thing I know, I'm three months behind and know that I'm never going to get caught back up, so I scrap everything and start over again. &nbsp;At which point, I'm good for about a week...</li></ol><div><br /></div><div>So those are the things I can't see to do. &nbsp;And honestly, it was harder to come up with than I expected it would be. &nbsp;Part of it is because of the broader categories that I put in, but part of it is that I'm not feeling quite as down on myself today as I usually do. &nbsp;Having a little boy come in to snuggle and tell me about the monster in his room named Plan who has blue scales, a long nose, is spiky all over and is, most importantly, his friend, made me remember the things that I'm good at. &nbsp;But I did manage to come up with ten things for this list. &nbsp;So go me.&nbsp;</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6169312327675576736-2118404775592257844?l=sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Amber DiTulliohttps://profiles.google.com/110383382274245312911noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6169312327675576736.post-11967806952380778762012-02-29T16:40:00.000-06:002012-02-29T16:40:21.440-06:00In 1986, a group from my mother's teen years was having a reunion tour and coming back into national&nbsp;prominence. &nbsp;When they first came back on the music scene, I didn't care much one way or the other. &nbsp;It was <i>old</i>&nbsp;music from an <i>old</i>&nbsp;group.<br /><br />Then I went to visit my father in Florida over the summer. &nbsp;And I came across their television show one night on &nbsp;Nickelodeon (I think I was looking for <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/You_Can%27t_Do_That_On_Television" target="_blank">You Can't Do That on Television</a>.) &nbsp;Regardless of what I was actually looking for, I got sucked into the show. &nbsp;It was musical, it was funny and I wanted to watch every single episode of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Monkees" target="_blank">The Monkees</a>. &nbsp;I had officially become a Monkee-maniac.<br /><br />I taped every episode I could that summer. &nbsp;When I went back to New York, I wanted to be able to watch it over and over again. &nbsp;I bought several of their albums (actual record albums) and a few of their tapes. &nbsp;My favorite was their previously unreleased stuff on&nbsp;<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Missing_Links_(album)" target="_blank">Missing Links</a>. &nbsp;I wore that cassette tape out listening to it over and over again. &nbsp;(And now, I need to go&nbsp;<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Missing-Links/dp/B00123G5HQ/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1330552959&amp;sr=8-2" target="_blank">buy it on digital</a>.) &nbsp;Back then, I knew everything there was to know about the Monkees and then some. &nbsp;I could quote stats about their albums, about each of the members, who were the players and who were the actors. &nbsp;I devoured everything I could about them.<br /><br />I had posters on my wall with the four of them smiling down at me. &nbsp;I had a thing for Peter Tork, but all of them were awesome. &nbsp;And Davy Jones... he had the voice of an angel (and the accent to match). &nbsp;I wanted to go to see on e of their concerts, but it never happened. &nbsp;I used to make up daydreams to help me fall asleep, putting myself in as Davy's sister and getting up to hijinks with the band &nbsp;(I was a weird kid, what can I say?) &nbsp;For several years in my teens, The Monkees were at the top of my list of people I most wanted to meet.<br /><br />As I got older, the obsession passed, but I still loved their show and their music. Whenever I heard one of them was going to be on a show, I made sure to watch it (in particular, I remember watching&nbsp;<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0655196/" target="_blank">My Two Dads</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0530930/" target="_blank">Boy Meets World</a>&nbsp;- shows I don't think I'd watched before or since). &nbsp;I got a smile any time I'd hear one of their songs on the radio. &nbsp;Whenever I'd meet another fan, I'd sit down to debate which episodes were better and which songs were our favorites (for me?&nbsp;<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0650705/" target="_blank">"The Devil and Peter Tork"</a>&nbsp;and "Shades of Gray" - see below). &nbsp;They may not have been at the top of my list any longer, but they were still there and still had a special place in my heart.<br /><br />Earlier today, my friend Carmen forwarded a news alert text that she had gotten. &nbsp;Davy Jones, the man with that wonderful voice, died today in Florida at age 66. &nbsp;I couldn't believe it. &nbsp;I didn't <i>want</i>&nbsp;to believe it. &nbsp;He may have been my parents' age, but he was still an important part of <i>my</i>&nbsp;childhood. &nbsp;My childhood isn't supposed to go like that. &nbsp;So I looked on line and found out that no, it wasn't an internet hoax gone to extremes (like&nbsp;<a href="http://articles.nydailynews.com/2011-12-20/news/30540152_1_jon-bon-jovi-wordpress-blog-social-media" target="_blank">Jon Bon Jovi's supposed death last year</a>). &nbsp;It was true. &nbsp;From what's been said (though not officially, unless something new has come up) he died of a heart attack. &nbsp;A part of my childhood was gone.<br /><br />So I've spent the afternoon remembering what I loved of Davy from my Monkees years. &nbsp;Davy's voice, particularly in the ballads, could make me swoon any time. &nbsp;His diminutive height was a plus (since I'm short myself so I admire short guys). &nbsp;He was everyone's heart throb, but I wanted him to be my brother. &nbsp;I thought the Davy of the television show would have made an awesome brother.<br /><br />Tonight, I'll be listening to the songs. &nbsp;I'll be thinking about Davy's friends and family and how this loss must be affecting them. &nbsp;I'll be in mourning with the other fans of this wonderful actor and music maker. &nbsp; I'll be queuing up clips on YouTube so I can introduce my boys' to the zaniness of four boys in a band in California. &nbsp;And I will probably shed a few tears.<br /><br />To Davy's friends and family, my thoughts and prayers are with you now. &nbsp;I am so very sorry for the loss of someone so special. To Davy's fans, I am with you in grief over this news. <br /><br />And to Davy, thank you for putting yourself out there, for stepping in front of the camera and in front of the microphone to entertain us for more than 45 years. &nbsp;You've brought joy, laughter and tears to many of us over the years and all we can say for it is "Thank you." &nbsp;Good-bye, and rest in peace.<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/cHGP9-xShbs" width="420"></iframe><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6169312327675576736-1196780695238077876?l=sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Amber DiTulliohttps://profiles.google.com/110383382274245312911noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6169312327675576736.post-79307109202996562182012-02-28T16:42:00.000-06:002012-02-28T16:42:06.071-06:00Right now, there are two knights in my living room. &nbsp;One carries a sword, the other a shield. &nbsp;They are fighting dragons and fire-breathing goombas (from Mario, of course). &nbsp;My youngest, the one with the shield, cries out, "Help, Teddy! &nbsp;A dragon has me! &nbsp;Help!" &nbsp;And Big Brother comes to the rescue, killing the dragons to rescue his brother.<br /><br />And when Teddy is besieged by the fire-breathing goombas, Pete shows why shield-bashing is a lost art. &nbsp;Because brothers need to stick together.<br /><br />Side by side, their imaginations take them to so many places. &nbsp;Today, they fight dragons as knights. &nbsp;Yesterday, they were Pokemon trainers, fighting wild Pokemon. &nbsp;They've been pirates and super heroes and dinosaur hunters. &nbsp;They've worked beside robots and animals, cartoon characters and even imaginary Mommy or Daddy (if we aren't around to actually help them fight). &nbsp;And I wouldn't have it any other way.<br /><br />Part of it is that incredibly imagination that they share. &nbsp;I remember playing castle with my sister in the front yard and how real everything was to me. &nbsp;And I know, without a doubt, that it is the same for the boys in the world they create. &nbsp;With their imaginations, nothing can limit them, and they will reach for the stars. &nbsp;And a gaming-reading-writing-musical geek such as myself is so grateful that they have this advantage in life.<br /><br />But another part of it is how close they are, especially when they play. &nbsp;They don't always get along - Pete hits and bites, Teddy screams and sometimes hits back. &nbsp;Teddy wants alone time that Pete just doesn't understand. They compete and get upset when they lose to one another. &nbsp;They're brothers and that's the way that life is. &nbsp;But they also count on one another. &nbsp;Even if it's against an imaginary dragon. &nbsp;They know that their brother will be there for them. &nbsp;The work together and create worlds together. &nbsp;And they really do love one another.<br /><br />My boys drive me insane on a daily basis. &nbsp;I don't always have the patience for the fighting or the whining or the&nbsp;incessant "now now now" that they seem to think as their right. &nbsp;But when times like now come along, it pushes all of those thoughts and frustrations so far away that I barely remember they exist. &nbsp;And it's these times when I remember exactly why I wanted to be Mom.<br /><br />I wish I could take a picture of this, but my camera is being borrowed by a friend. &nbsp;But I have a mental picture. And now I have words written down as well. &nbsp;It will have to do. &nbsp;Besides, I'm sure this isn't the last time knights will show up in my house. &nbsp;They'll be back and then, I hope, my camera will be ready.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6169312327675576736-7930710920299656218?l=sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Amber DiTulliohttps://profiles.google.com/110383382274245312911noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6169312327675576736.post-12142075519327237942012-02-27T11:22:00.000-06:002012-02-27T11:22:30.432-06:002012 was supposed to be the year that I got myself together. &nbsp;I had plans - including a <a href="http://amber101in1001.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">101 in 1,001</a>. &nbsp;I worked accountability into it by making swaps that related to it. &nbsp;I just knew that if I could start making habits, they'd become habits and I'd be on top of everything.<br /><br />That lasted about 4 days. Four days until all my plans went *poof* out the window. &nbsp;And I can't even say <i>why</i>&nbsp;it happened. &nbsp;I don't remember anything catastrophic that day. &nbsp;I just... forgot to do some of the things I wanted to do. &nbsp;And then I forgot more things. &nbsp;And more. &nbsp;Until I got to a point where I didn't look at anything that I needed to do for over a month. &nbsp;I slid behind in rating for swaps, and for getting them out. &nbsp;I slid behind in doing book reviews and memes that I enjoy on my blogs. &nbsp;I slid behind on housekeeping and healthy eating.<br /><br />I have GOT to get back on top of things. &nbsp;I want a house that I'm not&nbsp;embarrassed&nbsp;to let people come into. &nbsp;I want to be able to cook dinner for my family. &nbsp;I want to make a name for myself in both the Mommy Blogging and Book Blogging communities. &nbsp;I want to have time when I don't have to worry about what's not getting done when I take time to do something I want to do.<br /><br />Last night, I tried to work up a schedule for myself for today. &nbsp;It didn't go well. &nbsp;I think a large part of the problem is that I have too many things on my To Do list. &nbsp;Even sitting here on the computer, I'm bouncing between three different things (rating swaps, <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/giveaway" target="_blank">entering for giveaways on Goodreads</a>, and trying to write my blog post). &nbsp;And while I'm doing those things, I'm thinking that I should be switching and folding laundry. &nbsp;I should be cleaning the living room. &nbsp;I should be checking today's tasks from&nbsp;<a href="http://www.flylady.net/" target="_blank">FlyLady</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="http://www.mommacan.com/" target="_blank">MommaCan</a>. I should figure out what I want to do for dinner tonight... and lunch for Pete and I. &nbsp;I should I should I should...<br /><br />I'm driving myself crazy with all of the things that I "should" be doing and trying really hard to push the "want" to be doing out of my mind. &nbsp;And I think I figured out the problem. &nbsp;Well, the two problems.<br /><br />1) I work better when I have an audio book or some music playing. &nbsp;Something about the silence makes it harder for me to keep my mind on one task. &nbsp;It's like the auditory background helps guide my mind on it's path. &nbsp;I haven't put anything on because I don't want to disturb whatever Pete's watching in the living room. &nbsp;But I've got to change that. &nbsp;It's time to bring back my audio books!<br /><br />and<br /><br />2) I don't have things written down. &nbsp;I've always worked better actually writing what I needed to do. &nbsp;It made it stick in my mind so I wouldn't get overwhelmed. &nbsp;But even when I do write things down, they aren't in any particular order. &nbsp;Instead, I just have a list of things that <i>have</i>&nbsp;to get done. &nbsp;No order of importance. &nbsp;No break down. &nbsp;Just this huge list staring me in the face. &nbsp;So I need to change that. &nbsp;I'm thinking of downloading&nbsp;<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Mikes-Android-Workshop-ToDo-Manager/dp/B004SH4L4W/ref=sr_1_22?s=mobile-apps&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1330362820&amp;sr=1-22" target="_blank">ToDo Task Manager</a>&nbsp;to my Kindle in hopes of getting myself on track, but first and foremost, I think I need to write it down on paper. &nbsp;My original plan for today was to get a bunch of computer work done - book reviews, ratings, reading my feeds. &nbsp;But I think getting the groundwork set for what I want to do is much, much more important than getting things finished. &nbsp;I only have a couple things that are actually due TODAY, so those can be slotted in later. I'm hoping that if I can get my system down, I can get my life back under control.<br /><br />So that's my plan. &nbsp;Working my way through my huge list of things that need to be done, prioritizing and setting things right. &nbsp;And tomorrow... tomorrow I will start all over again. &nbsp;Because that's what matters. &nbsp;Getting up and starting again.<br /><br /><i>Destiny has a lot to do with it, but so do you. You have to persevere, you have to insist. - </i>Andrea Bocelli<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6169312327675576736-1214207551932723794?l=sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Amber DiTulliohttps://profiles.google.com/110383382274245312911noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6169312327675576736.post-44834589146716618852012-02-25T20:35:00.002-06:002012-02-25T20:35:58.217-06:00We're big geeks. &nbsp;It should come as no surprise to any of the regular readers of this blog. &nbsp;One of our biggest geeks, and one that we really want to pass along to our children, is role-playing games. &nbsp;And tonight, we tried one of our first non-Pokemon related games. We played a round of the incredibly kid-friendly&nbsp;<a href="http://www.evilhat.com/store/index.php?main_page=index&amp;cPath=68_73" target="_blank">Happy Birthday, Robot!</a>&nbsp;by&nbsp;<a href="http://danielsolisblog.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Daniel Solis</a>&nbsp;(who is, in my not so humble opinion, one of the best indie writers out there).<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41pPOXr4srL._SL500_AA300_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41pPOXr4srL._SL500_AA300_.jpg" /></a></div><br /><br /><i>Happy Birthday, Robot!</i>&nbsp;is primarily a story-telling game, with dice to help determine who gets to add what to the story. &nbsp;It's a fantastic gateway drug for some of the more advanced games because it introduces the younger or new players to collaborative story-telling. &nbsp;The rules are incredibly simple to follow - including rolling three dice at a time to find out how many words can be added to a sentence and how many your "neighbors" (the two players on your left and right) can add. &nbsp;There are freebie words (Robot, Robot's, And, But), tokens to loan to your fellow players and to add bring a close to the game and an epilogue section to pull things together at the end. The story comes together one sentence at a time and can sometimes go pretty far afield of what the first player to utter words thinks it will.<br /><br />Tonight, it was just Rich, Teddy and I playing. &nbsp;As enthusiastic as Pete was about wanting to play, he just doesn't have the counting or reasoning skills for it quite yet (though his story-telling ability is top notch). &nbsp;It took us about an hour to play and the time went quickly. &nbsp;This time around, Rich and I did the writing because, while Teddy's writing is getting better, we figured this might be a bit much the first time around. &nbsp;But I am hoping to use it as writing exercises in the future.<br /><br />The first phase is dice rolling and the dice are split based on what the storyteller rolls. &nbsp;Any ones and twos stay with the storyteller. &nbsp;Any threes and fours go to the person on their right. And any fives and sixes go to the person on their left. &nbsp;Dice are rolled three at a time and the storyteller can keep rolling sets of three dice until either they don't want to roll anymore or one of their neighbors has four dice in front of them. &nbsp;The number of dice each person has in front of them is how many words they can add to the sentence, along with their individual free words (the storyteller gets the free word Robot or Robot's, the person on their right gets the free word And, and the person on the left gets the free word But). &nbsp;The storyteller writes their part of the sentence first, followed by the And person and then the But person. &nbsp;The three need to come up with one sentence. &nbsp;When they are finished with the sentence, the storyteller gets tokens (placed heads up) equal to the number of dice they had for the sentence. &nbsp;Then it moves to the next person, with them becoming the storyteller and the person on either side of them becoming the neighbors. &nbsp;After the first roll, the storyteller can borrow tokens from other players to add words to their sentence, placing borrowed tokens tails side up. &nbsp;The last round happens when one player has ten tokens, allowing any remaining players to have one last chance at being storyteller. &nbsp;The final portion of the game is the epilogue, where each person gets to write a complete sentence by themselves. &nbsp;It starts with the person who has the most tokens, then going around based on the decreasing number of tokens. When it's your turn, you can write a sentence with as many words as you have tokens and using the free words Robot, Robot's, And, and But. &nbsp;Then sit back and enjoy the story that you created together.<br /><br />Teddy really enjoyed rolling the dice and coming up with his parts of the sentence. &nbsp;Being the youngest, he was the first to roll and come up with the beginning of the first sentence. &nbsp;By the end of rolling, Teddy had four words that he could use (with the free word Robot), I had four (with the free word And) and Rich had three. &nbsp;It took about a round, seeing each of us take our turn at storyteller, for Teddy to really understand what he was doing. &nbsp;And we did help with suggestions as we played. &nbsp;Teddy has the tendency to use a lot of words where a few would do, so we would help him still get the idea across but fit within the number of words he was allowed to use. I think we crafted a pretty good story, all told. And Teddy said he wants to play again.<br /><br />I do think, though, that we'll stick with three people playing for awhile. &nbsp;As we were getting closer to the end, Teddy's attention started to waver a bit and he was ready to end the story. &nbsp;But he did finish up with us, coming up with some great sentences at the end. &nbsp;I'm hoping that this will become a regular weekend game for us. &nbsp;And maybe in a few months, as Teddy gets more into it, we'll check with our friends' to see if they and their six year old daughter would like to join us.<br /><br />And now, without further ado, here is the story that we created tonight by playing <i>Happy Birthday, Robot!</i><br /><b><br /></b><br /><b><br /></b><br /><b>Happy birthday, Robot!</b><br /><br />"You are two today, Robot, and we're gonna have fun!" said his Mommy.<br /><br />"Can we go swimming and then to the park to swing and slide?" asked Robot.<br /><br />Robot danced while Mommy thought about going there. &nbsp;Robot stopped dancing and came to Mommy but she wasn't ready yet.<br /><br />"Ok, Robot, if you are good."<br /><br />Robot sighed, "Ok, Mommy. I promise I'll be good for you."<br /><br />They went to the pool and had lots of fun, but Robot rusted! Robott's Mommy took out his special oil and he could move better now.<br /><br />"Mommy, let's go home now," said Robot sadly, "But I want to rest."<br /><br />Then Birthday Robot slept until morning and felt so much better but was kinda sad. &nbsp;Then Robot's Mommy came in and brought him a cake! &nbsp;Robot smiled at his Mommy, "Oil cake with cookie icing! My favorite!"<br /><br />"The cake was really yummy and now I'd like some milk," said Robot.<br /><br />"Ok," said Mommy, giving him a hug. &nbsp;It was the best day ever.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6169312327675576736-4483458914671661885?l=sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Amber DiTulliohttps://profiles.google.com/110383382274245312911noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6169312327675576736.post-76747614262883110012012-02-13T23:35:00.000-06:002012-02-13T23:35:00.127-06:00In some ways, it feels like yesterday. &nbsp;In others, it seems like forever ago.<br /><br />My water broke at 2:30 am, February 13th. &nbsp;I was at the hospital by 3am.<br /><br />Just 4 hours later, by 7 am, they were inserting the epidural. &nbsp;For the next 16 1/2 hours, I was in my room, listening to my "Music to Give Birth By" mix (which all the staff were loving, regularly coming into my room to see what song was playing next) and talking with my husband between contractions. &nbsp;As time went on, however, I seemed to have stopped dilating at around 9 centimeters. &nbsp;Around 11 pm that night, my doctor suggested a C-Section. &nbsp;And I agreed.<br /><br />I was dippy on the medication that they gave me. &nbsp;I felt no pain, in so many ways. &nbsp;And while many parts of the surgery weren't clear, I do vaguely remember the doctor holding this beautiful little boy up for me to see. &nbsp;Rich said that he commented, "He's not a baby, he's a 2 year old!" &nbsp;Weighing in at 8 pounds, 13 ounces and 21 inches long, Theadore entered the world. &nbsp;Being born at 11:35 pm, he was 25 minutes shy of being a Valentine's baby. &nbsp;And for all that he filled my heart with more love than I could have ever imagined, I was glad that he was born on the 13th.<br /><br />I still remember holding him in my arms,. &nbsp;I remember the fumbling as we tried to figure out nursing, the uncertainty as I learned to change him, the love I felt whenever I held him. &nbsp;I remember having to bring new clothes for him to wear because the going home outfit we'd brought was too small. &nbsp;Instead, he came home in a dinosaur sleeper that was a little too big.<br /><br />Those first few months were rough. &nbsp;He was getting used to life outside the womb. &nbsp;I was getting used to life with someone depending on me entirely. &nbsp;But somehow, we managed to make it.<br /><br />Over the last six years, I've watched him grow from a beautiful, pretty happy baby who could barely hold his head up to a funny, sensitive, intelligent little boy who, for all that he hates being thwarted, still does try to help out his Mommy, Daddy and Little Brother. &nbsp;He still can amaze me with the things he knows and the things her learns. &nbsp;He brings back my own childhood as I watch him go through his - both the good and the bad. &nbsp;While he's no longer the only child in the household, he never seems to resent his brother - and hasn't from the first. &nbsp;He wants to show Pete how to do things and beams with pride when Pete shows off his knowledge, often calling out, "Mommy, look what I showed Pete how to do!"<br /><br />My boy has a weird sense of humor (but who could blame him with the parents he has), a sensitive heart (taking every negative far too personally - again, who could blame him as he's my son) and a first rate mind. &nbsp;He isn't the boy that I dreamed having as my son - he's far, far more than I could have ever imagined. &nbsp;And I love him far more than I could have ever imagined too.<br /><br />Happy birthday, Teddy. &nbsp;I love you so very much and am so proud of what you've accomplished in the last 6 years. &nbsp;And I know that it's just the beginning of the wonderful boy - then man - that you will become.<br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/truepisces/164361825/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="TeddyPooh by TruePisces, on Flickr"><img alt="TeddyPooh" height="500" src="http://farm1.staticflickr.com/68/164361825_3c31f142ed.jpg" width="375" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My bright-eyed little boy at 3 months old, being held by Daddy.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ykM5wO6tNT0/TznuXTBqXCI/AAAAAAAAHWk/cTgGqYBo4rk/s1600/DSCN1369.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ykM5wO6tNT0/TznuXTBqXCI/AAAAAAAAHWk/cTgGqYBo4rk/s320/DSCN1369.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My contemplative almost-six-year-old at his first Pokemon Tournament</td></tr></tbody></table><br />In my heart, no matter how much he looks like the bottom picture, he'll still always be the top one to me.<br /><div><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6169312327675576736-7674761426288311001?l=sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Amber DiTulliohttps://profiles.google.com/110383382274245312911noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6169312327675576736.post-14614291205073417712012-01-25T16:57:00.000-06:002012-01-25T16:57:28.591-06:00Today has been one of those days where I've dealt with both frustration and feelings of pride. &nbsp;Though I'm glad to say, the feelings of pride are winning.<br /><br />I had an unexpected day to myself, since my friend Becca has two sick kids. &nbsp;I've been helping her (or trying to) get packed for their move to their new house next week. &nbsp;Her eldest was sick last night, so she asked me to watch the baby. &nbsp;Since he's one of the happiest babies I've ever had the&nbsp;privilege&nbsp;of keeping an eye on, I had no problem with it. &nbsp;But this morning, she sent me a text to let me know that her middle child was sick as well. &nbsp;Since she wasn't going to be able to get much done with packing, she said she'd keep the baby. &nbsp;I know that I should have planned on housework, but honestly, I planned on napping. &nbsp;Sleep, for whatever reason, hasn't been as restful as it should have been.<br /><br />Instead, I ended up having to drive to Teddy's school because I forgot to put his eye patch on this morning. &nbsp;(He's back to wearing one all day for a month because his eye has weakened again.) &nbsp;It gave me a chance to chat with his teacher for a bit to find out how things have been with him at school. &nbsp;I also got to see pictures of her new baby and she's sooooo adorable!<br /><br />Since I was already out, I decided to head to Target to pick up more of the magazine holders they had in their dollar bins. &nbsp;(They make a great temporary storage for my comics.) &nbsp;I absolutely love those dollar bins at Target. &nbsp;I regularly find inexpensive craft supplies, little goodies for the boys, organizational items and other things. &nbsp;Today, along with the paper magazine holders, I picked up a couple metal ones they had for $2.50 each and plastic storage baskets that I'll be using for some organization. &nbsp;They'll be going on the stairs, one for each of us, and will hold things that need to go upstairs for each of us.<br /><br />I also picked up a few shirts for the boys - three for Teddy and one for Pete. &nbsp;I actually prefer Target's clearance clothing to Wal-Marts, because they usually have cooler stuff for less. &nbsp;I didn't find as much for Pete, just one long-sleeved one that was kind of cute. &nbsp;Teddy, on the other hand, got two Pokemon shirts and an Adventure Time shirt. &nbsp;This one is my favorite:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41BRkZnMChL._SL190_SY246_CR0,0,190,246_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41BRkZnMChL._SL190_SY246_CR0,0,190,246_.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">He looks great in it too (as soon as we got home, he decided that he wanted to wear it).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I planned on napping a bit when I got home, but I got caught up in the book that I'd been listening to (<i>A Bite to Remember</i>&nbsp;by Lynsay Sands) and the one I'd been reading (<i>The Scrapbook of Frankie Pratt</i>&nbsp;by Caroline Preston), as well as wandering around&nbsp;<a href="http://pinterest.com/pisceanmama/" target="_blank">Pintrest</a>&nbsp;(yes, I'm becoming addicted). &nbsp;Just as I was about ready to leave to pick up Pete from PDO, my phone rang and it was Teddy's school. He pooped his pants again.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So I called Pete's PDO to beg them to have Pete awake and ready for me (and luckily, they were understanding and did so), and then rushed to pick up Teddy. &nbsp;I did get some good news regarding Pete - not only did he have a great day in general, behaving like he was supposed to, but he also went both poopie and pee-pee on the potty. &nbsp;It's a step in the right direction.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">When I got to Teddy's school, I found out that it wasn't really his fault, pooping his pants this time. &nbsp;He had&nbsp;diarrhea&nbsp;again. &nbsp;But, I was proud of him with one thing - he actually told his teacher rather than trying to hide it. &nbsp;It's a problem that he's had lately, trying to hide when he poops his pants because he's afraid he'll get in trouble. &nbsp;So rather than focus on the pooping, I made sure to focus on what he did right. &nbsp;I did tell him that we need to work on getting him to the bathroom on time - I'm still not sure why he has been having trouble with it (since it's usually NOT diarrhea). &nbsp;Hopefully, we'll be able to get him through this.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So I'm feeling relatively positive about today. &nbsp;I'm hoping that tomorrow will be a good day as well. I'll have both boys at home (with the whole sick-at-school thing for Teddy) but it will give Teddy and I a chance to work on some of his homework and I'll get a chance to get a few other things done as well.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Positive days. I like them.</div><br /><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6169312327675576736-1461429120507341771?l=sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Amber DiTulliohttps://profiles.google.com/110383382274245312911noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6169312327675576736.post-38133907386586149932012-01-15T15:22:00.000-06:002012-01-15T15:22:18.752-06:00Happy Sunday! &nbsp;We're back again for more giveaways and goodies that I've found while reading through the various blogs that I love to read. &nbsp;For book giveaways, you can check&nbsp;<a href="http://viewsfromthereaderside.blogspot.com/2012/01/giveaways-and-goodies-1.html" target="_blank">the list that I posted</a>&nbsp;on my book blog,&nbsp;<a href="http://viewsfromthereaderside.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Views from the Reader Side</a>. &nbsp;Here, I'm listing giveaways that my fellow bloggers are listing for things other than books.<br /><br />First, let me point you toward&nbsp;<a href="http://thesteadyhandblog.com/ongoing-giveaway-linky-29/?utm_source=rss&amp;utm_medium=rss&amp;utm_campaign=ongoing-giveaway-linky-29" target="_blank">The Steady Hand's List of Giveaways</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="http://thesteadyhandblog.com/rafflecopter-giveaway-linky-30/?utm_source=rss&amp;utm_medium=rss&amp;utm_campaign=rafflecopter-giveaway-linky-30" target="_blank">The Steady Hand's List of Rafflecopter Giveaways</a>. &nbsp;She has Rafflecopter link-ups that she posts. &nbsp;Anyone with a giveaway is welcome to add their own link (if you have a giveaway on Rafflecopter, list it on the second link, all others on the first), so you'll find some great things there that you may want to put your name into the hat.<br /><br /><b><u>January 18, 2012</u></b><br /><b><u><br /></u></b><br /><a href="http://jimhalterman.com/free-stuff/whitecollarusa-royalpains_usa-fans-this-giveaway-is-for-you/" target="_blank">A <i>White Collar</i> Pack and a <i>Royal Pains</i> Pack</a>&nbsp;at&nbsp;<a href="http://jimhalterman.com/" target="_blank">Jim Halterman's blog</a><br /><br /><b><u>January 20, 2012</u></b><br /><b><u><br /></u></b><br /><a href="http://nashpop.blogspot.com/2012/01/giveaway-sombras-blancas.html" target="_blank">Sombras Blancas Wearable Art</a>&nbsp;at&nbsp;<a href="http://nashpop.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">nashpop</a><br /><a href="http://lilaccitymomma.com/2012/01/my-new-years-resolution-with-purex-jockey/" target="_blank">Jockey Sports Bra and Purex Crystals</a>&nbsp;at&nbsp;<a href="http://lilaccitymomma.com/" target="_blank">Lilac City Momma</a><br /><br /><b><u>January 22, 2012</u></b><br /><b><u><br /></u></b><br /><a href="http://lani5287.blogspot.com/2012/01/giveaway.html" target="_blank">Homemade Kindle Cozy</a>&nbsp;at&nbsp;<a href="http://lani5287.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">create.</a><br /><a href="http://hangingoffthewire.blogspot.com/2012/01/new-chapter-vitamins-giveaway.html" target="_blank">New Chapter Vitamins Giveaway</a>&nbsp;at&nbsp;<a href="http://hangingoffthewire.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Hanging Off the Wire</a><br /><a href="http://hangingoffthewire.blogspot.com/2012/01/flavrz-drink-mix-giveaway.html" target="_blank">Lemon Lime and Citrus Hibiscus Flavrz Giveaway</a>&nbsp;at&nbsp;<a href="http://hangingoffthewire.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Hanging Off the Wire</a><br /><br /><b><u>January 23, 2012</u></b><br /><b><u><br /></u></b><br /><a href="http://hangingoffthewire.blogspot.com/2012/01/purex-crystals-jockey-giveaway.html" target="_blank">Jockey Sports Bra and Purex Crystals Tropical Splash Giveaway</a>&nbsp;at&nbsp;<a href="http://hangingoffthewire.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Hanging Off the Wire</a><br /><br /><b><u>January 25, 2012</u></b><br /><b><u><br /></u></b><br /><a href="http://hangingoffthewire.blogspot.com/2012/01/protein-bakery-giveaway.html" target="_blank">The Protein Bakery Cookie and Brownie Pack Giveaway</a>&nbsp;at&nbsp;<a href="http://hangingoffthewire.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Hanging Off the Wire</a><br /><a href="http://hangingoffthewire.blogspot.com/2012/01/grab-scab-giveaway.html" target="_blank">Grab-A-Scab Fabric Sticker Patches Giveaway</a>&nbsp;at&nbsp;<a href="http://hangingoffthewire.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Hanging Off the Wire</a><br /><br /><b><u>January 28, 2012</u></b><br /><b><u><br /></u></b><br /><a href="http://www.midnightmommy.com/2012/01/country-save-saved-our-cloth-diapers.htmlhttp://viewsfromthereaderside.blogspot.com/2012/01/giveaways-and-goodies-1.html" target="_blank">Country Loads Laundry Detergent</a>&nbsp;at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.midnightmommy.com/" target="_blank">Midnight Mommy</a><br /><br /><b><u>February 1, 2012</u></b><br /><b><u><br /></u></b><br /><a href="http://thesteadyhandblog.com/win-five-nights-lodging-in-crested-butte-colorado-2" target="_blank">Five Nights Lodging in Crested Butte, CO</a>&nbsp;at&nbsp;<a href="http://thesteadyhandblog.com/" target="_blank">The Steady Hand</a><br /><br /><b><u>February 7, 2012</u></b><br /><b><u><br /></u></b><br />Rafflecopter is giving away an iPad 2 to one winner, and a Kindle Fire to one person who helps spread the word of the giveaway. &nbsp;When you sign up for it, please make sure to mention my name - Amber DiTullio - as the one who let you know about this entry.<br /><br /><br /><script id="raflin-bdfinv0g" type="text/javascript">/*{literal}<![CDATA[*/ window.RAFLIN = window.RAFLIN || {}; window.RAFLIN['bdfinv0g'] = {id: 'Z3JlZzoxMDA='}; var url='//d12vno17mo87cx.cloudfront.net/static/js/raflcptr/build/raflcptr.min.js', head=(document.getElementsByTagName('head')[0] || document.getElementsByTagName('body')[0]); (function(d,n,h){if(!!d.getElementById(n))return;var j=d.createElement('script');j.id=n;j.type='text/javascript';j.async=true;j.src=url;h.appendChild(j);}(document,'rsoijs',head));/*]]>{/literal}*/</script><br /><a class="rafl-powered" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/" id="rpow-bdfinv0g" style="color: #999999; display: block; font: 10px sans-serif; text-align: center; width: 100%;" target="_blank">a <i>Rafflecopter</i> giveaway</a><br /><noscript>&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://rafl.es/enable-js"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;You need javascript enabled to see this giveaway&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;.</noscript><br /><br />Those are all the giveaways that I have for this week. &nbsp;If you have a giveaway you'd like to see listed here, please e-mail me at tpisces at gmail dot com and I'll be happy to add it next week!<br /><br />Now for some of the goodies that I've found while looking around. &nbsp;I've been on my geek kick, so quite a few will have a geeky bent.<br /><br />Over at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wired.com/geekdad/" target="_blank">GeekDad</a>, I've found lots of fun stuff to share. &nbsp;They pointed their readers to&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wired.com/geekdad/2012/01/kickstarter-2-games" target="_blank">two games to watch out for on Kickstarter</a>. <i>Island Fortress </i>is ending today (Sunday, January 15) but it has been funded. &nbsp;If you want to get in on the goodies, head over quickly to check it out. &nbsp;The other game is <i>Conquest Tactics</i>, a CCG that still has three weeks left on Kickstarter. &nbsp;If geeky games are you style, go check them out.<br /><br />At&nbsp;<a href="http://www.geekmom.com/" target="_blank">GeekMom</a>, I found one of the few cookbooks a non-cooking geek like myself might pick up -&nbsp;<i><a href="http://www.geekmom.com/2012/01/molly-weasley-comfort-cooking/" target="_blank">Molly Weasley's Comfort Cooking</a>. &nbsp;</i>What proper geek girl wouldn't want this one?<br /><br />Through GeekDad, I also found out about&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wired.com/geekdad/2012/01/game-loft" target="_blank">an after-school program that needs our help</a>. The Game Loft in Belfast, Maine, helps teens realize their full potential through gaming. &nbsp;The program started by a gaming couple (who happened to own a game shop) in 1998. &nbsp;They opened the community center in the attic of their store and have been helping teens ever since. &nbsp;In 2009, it was purchased by a social services organization, but funding has been cut (the organization has been hit hard financially) and The Game Loft is in danger of closing. &nbsp;You can read the full story at the link above, along with links for helping if you want.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.abebooks.com/blog/" target="_blank">Abebooks</a>&nbsp;<a href="http://www.abebooks.com/blog/index.php/2012/01/09/plotto-a-book-listing-every-possible-plot/" target="_blank">posted about a book from 1928</a> in which the author tries to catalog every possible plot. &nbsp;The book is called <i>Plotto</i>&nbsp;and the article is an interesting read.<br /><br />I'm sure any of my readers that consider themselves gaming geeks probably already heard about this, but I'm going to pass it along for those who may not have.&nbsp;<a href="http://www.tor.com/blogs/2012/01/fan-input-wanted-for-new-dungeons-a-dragons-5th-edition" target="_blank">Wizards of the Coast is asking for fan input for Dungeons and Dragons 5th Edition</a>&nbsp;(the link is through Tor). &nbsp;After the uproar by many over D&amp;D 4th ed, I'm glad to hear that WotC is finally taking the fans into account.<br /><br />I love optical illusions, and those of the body art variety impress me beyond belief. &nbsp;I regularly read&nbsp;<a href="http://www.moillusions.com/" target="_blank">Mighty Optical Illusions</a>, and I had to share the post they have&nbsp;<a href="http://www.moillusions.com/2012/01/craig-tracys-body-art.html?" target="_blank">showing Craig Tracy's body art.</a>&nbsp; It took awhile for me to find the people in some of this artwork. &nbsp;It's truly amazing.<br /><br />That's all for this week. &nbsp;Please leave me feedback on this feature. &nbsp;Do you like it? &nbsp;Hate it? &nbsp;Think it's a great bit of fun or something that is a waste of my time? &nbsp;While I do write my blog for me, I share these things for you. &nbsp;After all, I've already read them and entered the giveaways that I wanted.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6169312327675576736-3813390738658614993?l=sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Amber DiTulliohttps://profiles.google.com/110383382274245312911noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6169312327675576736.post-67523006143495226132012-01-14T09:58:00.000-06:002012-01-14T09:58:03.798-06:00For the last week or so, I've been laid low with the sick. &nbsp;I believe (though I never confirmed it) that I had the flu. &nbsp;Fever, nausea, chills, all over body aches.... I felt like death, without even the benefit of being warmed over. &nbsp;Rich stayed home Monday and Tuesday, but that was as much time as he could take off. &nbsp;Wednesday, both boys were in school so I spent the time I should have been cleaning (and taking down the Christmas decorations) sleeping. Thursday, we were in for a snow and ice, so they closed Rich's department at 2 and he got to come home early. &nbsp;Teddy was in school until 3, but things weren't too bad then. &nbsp;I spent most of Thursday in bed as well.<br /><br />Thankfully, yesterday I was feeling about 75% human. &nbsp;Human enough that I could a) deal with both my kids (since they closed school because of ice - Nashville doesn't have the equipment to deal with a lot of ice on the roads) and b) get a bunch of things done around the house. &nbsp;I was amazed at how much I got done in such a short amount of time. &nbsp;It helped, I think, that I was listening to <i>Home Improvement: The Undead Edition</i>, edited by Charlaine Harris and Toni L.P. Kelner. &nbsp;Good books always help me stay focused on what I need to do. &nbsp;I did end up hitting my physical wall before I wanted to, but I still feel good about what I did get done.<br /><br />Being sick gave me a chance to play with my Kindle Fire a lot more. &nbsp;I did do some reading (I'm rereading <i>American Gods</i>&nbsp;by Neil Gaiman right now), but mainly I used it as my conduit to the web. &nbsp;I've been downloading a lot of apps for it - some games (like <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004SJ3BCI/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=sanitsover-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=390957&amp;creativeASIN=B004SJ3BCI">Angry Birds Free</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=sanitsover-20&amp;l=as2&amp;o=1&amp;a=B004SJ3BCI" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />&nbsp;and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006RXD2I6/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=sanitsover-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=390957&amp;creativeASIN=B006RXD2I6">250+ Solitaire Collection</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=sanitsover-20&amp;l=as2&amp;o=1&amp;a=B006RXD2I6" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />), some essentials (like <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006DRVFRQ/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=sanitsover-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=390957&amp;creativeASIN=B006DRVFRQ">gReader (Google Reader | RSS)</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=sanitsover-20&amp;l=as2&amp;o=1&amp;a=B006DRVFRQ" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />&nbsp;and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004I4HTMG/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=sanitsover-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=390957&amp;creativeASIN=B004I4HTMG">MailDroid</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=sanitsover-20&amp;l=as2&amp;o=1&amp;a=B004I4HTMG" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />), some for productivity (like <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004S2W37O/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=sanitsover-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=390957&amp;creativeASIN=B004S2W37O">Cozi Family Organizer</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=sanitsover-20&amp;l=as2&amp;o=1&amp;a=B004S2W37O" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />&nbsp;and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004LOMB2Q/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=sanitsover-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=390957&amp;creativeASIN=B004LOMB2Q">Evernote</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=sanitsover-20&amp;l=as2&amp;o=1&amp;a=B004LOMB2Q" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />) and a whole host of others. <br /><br />Far and away, my favorite is Evernote. &nbsp;Since I've been lying in bed most of the week, I've spent a lot of time reading my RSS feeds. &nbsp;And since I like sharing goodies with my readers (which reminds me, I've listed all the&nbsp;<a href="http://viewsfromthereaderside.blogspot.com/2012/01/giveaways-and-goodies-1.html" target="_blank">book giveaways and goodies</a>&nbsp;that I've found over the last week over on&nbsp;<a href="http://viewsfromthereaderside.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Views from the Reader Side</a>&nbsp;- other goodies and giveaways to be listed here tomorrow.... probably), I wanted a way to keep track of the pages on which I'd found things to share. &nbsp;I can't save things easily in my feed reader (well, I can, but I wanted something I could make personal notes with if necessary), so I went looking. &nbsp;I wasn't sure about Evernote - I have a ton of "note" programs all over the place that I've only used in a limited capacity. &nbsp;But I decided to give it a try. &nbsp;I love the fact that I can have separate "notebooks" to put the notes in, that I can include audio and photo posts and that I can tag things under numerous tags. &nbsp;It's an easy touch for me to get into the program from my feed reader on my Kindle and then an easy few more touches to drop it in the correct notebook, tag it and note it. &nbsp;And since the information is kept in the cloud rather than on the device, it meant that I was able to pull it down to the desktop when I was ready to work on my Giveaways post last night. &nbsp;Major plus. &nbsp;The only thing I didn't like was the fact that I can't put notes into multiple notebooks with one click. &nbsp;There are times, particularly with the book blogs that I read, that I want to share something with my readers <i>and</i>&nbsp;keep note of a book I want to read later. &nbsp;I just need to get in the habit, I think, of saving it a second time to another notebook.<br /><br />Apparently, Teddy has been bitten by the love bug. &nbsp;There's a little girl in his class, Sonduce (not sure of the spelling) that Teddy has talked about occasionally as one of his best friends. &nbsp;I asked him the night before last how things have been since he started back to school, who he's been playing with, etc. &nbsp;He told me that when he and Sonduce went to their respective buses in the afternoon, they said good-bye to each other because "we love each other". &nbsp;My eyebrows raised. &nbsp;Not because he loved someone - since he was around 3, he had a crush on his friend Ruby. &nbsp;But that... that was different. &nbsp;This was a little girl I didn't know. &nbsp;I asked him if she was his girlfriend and he blushed and said "Yes". &nbsp; &nbsp;I can't help but tease him a little, though I know I shouldn't. &nbsp;My mom still teases me about my first "boyfriend", Ramon Bennett. &nbsp;I actually have a picture of our "wedding" in kindergarten. &nbsp;It makes me wonder if the same will happen with Teddy. &nbsp;Probably not, but it does make me smile.<br /><br />I know I had more brain droppings to write about, but I can't think of them at the moment. &nbsp;Well, that and the fact that I've got to get us ready to go to the library. &nbsp;Busy day ahead!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6169312327675576736-6752300614349522613?l=sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Amber DiTulliohttps://profiles.google.com/110383382274245312911noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6169312327675576736.post-85418974493916918722012-01-07T10:21:00.000-06:002012-01-07T10:21:00.069-06:00This week, I'm going to try to go back to my Giveaways and Goodies feature - a place where I promote giveaways, cool links and other bits of fun that I find on the blogs that I read. &nbsp;I'm hoping to make this a weekly feature, posting on either Saturday or Sunday (when I have a bit more time to put it all together).<br /><br /><a href="http://hangingoffthewire.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Hanging Off the Wire</a>&nbsp;always has good giveaways going on. &nbsp;Right now, she has 11 giveaways happening. &nbsp;Follow the links to enter the ones that you find interesting.<br /><br />Ending on January 10, she is giving away&nbsp;<a href="http://hangingoffthewire.blogspot.com/2011/12/gelthotics-insole-review-giveaway.html" target="_blank">GelThotics Insoles</a>. She has a lot of good things to say about them and I, for one, could use a pair, with my lack of arches and back pain!<br /><br />You can enter to win the great family game&nbsp;<a href="http://hangingoffthewire.blogspot.com/2011/12/say-anything-game-giveaway.html" target="_blank">Say Anything! Family Edition</a>, a fun, kid-friendly game that's perfect to break out at family gatherings. &nbsp;The Giveaway ends on January 11.<br /><br />If you enter by January 12, you'll have a chance to win the book&nbsp;<a href="http://hangingoffthewire.blogspot.com/2011/12/many-adventures-of-pengey-penquin.html" target="_blank"><i>The Many Adventures of Pengey the Penguin</i> by John Burns</a>, a book that, according to Hayley, "is an enjoyable story and is jam-packed with a lot of culture and life lessons".<br /><br />She is also giving away another whole series, in eBook format, ending on January 13. &nbsp;It is the<i>&nbsp;</i><a href="http://hangingoffthewire.blogspot.com/2011/12/green-stone-healing-series-giveaway.html" target="_blank"><i>Green Stone Healing</i> series by C.L. Talmadge</a>.It's not one that I've heard of before, but it does look like a good fantasy series.<br /><br />If clothing is more your style, she's giving away a&nbsp;<a href="http://hangingoffthewire.blogspot.com/2012/01/smart-sexy-giveaway.html" target="_blank">$50 item from Smart &amp; Sexy.</a>&nbsp; They're a great company that not only sells comfortable lingerie, but also supports&nbsp;<a href="http://www.thewomensalliance.org/" target="_blank">The Women's Alliance</a>&nbsp;by donating a portion of their profits to them. &nbsp;This giveaway ends on January 16.<br /><br />If you have a child mad for dinosaurs, then the&nbsp;<a href="http://hangingoffthewire.blogspot.com/2012/01/dino-dan-giveaway.html" target="_blank">Dino Dan DVD and theatrical poster</a>&nbsp;is the giveaway you should enter. &nbsp;I'm definitely entering for Pete. &nbsp;You've got until January 16 to enter.<br /><br />My hair hates staying in clips. &nbsp;And when I try to use traditional claw clips, the claws end up poking into my head and making me more uncomfortable. &nbsp;So I'm very interested in Hayley's <a href="http://hangingoffthewire.blogspot.com/2012/01/linziclip-review-giveaway.html" target="_blank">giveaway of&nbsp;scünci's linziclip</a>. &nbsp;It has a flat bottom so rather than poking you, the clip lays flat. &nbsp;The giveaway ends January 17.<br /><br />Also ending on January 17 is the giveaway for&nbsp;<a href="http://hangingoffthewire.blogspot.com/2012/01/cranberry-naturals-giveaway-2-winners.html" target="_blank">Old Orchard's Cranberry Naturals juice products</a>. Two winners will receive coupons for free product. &nbsp;Sorry, international readers. &nbsp;This one is US only.<br /><br />She is also giving away a&nbsp;<a href="http://hangingoffthewire.blogspot.com/2012/01/cottonagecom-giveaway.html" target="_blank">CottonAge.com microfiber turban towel</a>. &nbsp;Not only is it comfortable, but it attaches to a button so it doesn't slide down your head. &nbsp;You can enter until January 19.<br /><br />If you have school-age children, you know that head lice is a real threat. &nbsp;Be proactive by trying to win&nbsp;<a href="http://hangingoffthewire.blogspot.com/2012/01/zippity-doos-giveaway.html" target="_blank">Zippity Doo's Children's Daily Use Hair Care Products</a>. &nbsp;They are specially designed not only to be gentle on young scalps but also they add natural protection against lice. &nbsp;Hayley had first-hand experience with how well they work, and has nothing but good to say about it. &nbsp;Enter by January 20.<br /><br />Losing weight is a resolution that many of us make for the new year. &nbsp;Hayley is giving away something that will (hopefully) help with this -&nbsp;<a href="http://hangingoffthewire.blogspot.com/2012/01/zone-diet-review-giveaway.html" target="_blank">Dr Sears Zone Diet 2 Week Package</a>. &nbsp;She's tried it and says that, while the numbers on the scale haven't gone down, her clothes feel looser and she has more energy. &nbsp;If you're interested in trying to win this, then enter by January 21.<br /><br /><br />Now we're moving away from Hayley and moving on to&nbsp;<a href="http://jimhalterman.com/" target="_blank">Jim Halterman</a>. &nbsp;He is a freelance writer, interviewing lots of talent either on the way to the top or already there. &nbsp;He regularly offers giveaways, and all you need to do is e-mail him to enter. &nbsp;Right now, he's giving away <a href="http://jimhalterman.com/free-stuff/giveaway-of-the-week-signed-copy-of-the-firm-novel-by-john-grisham-new-nbc-series-premieres-sunday/" target="_blank">a signed copy of<i> The Firm</i> by John Grisham</a>, in anticipation of the series starting on NBC this Sunday. &nbsp;You have until January 11 to send in your entry.<br /><br />If you love great books, check out&nbsp;<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/giveaway" target="_blank">GoodReads First Reads Giveaways</a>. Every day there are a bunch of giveaways for different kinds of books that you can enter. &nbsp;As a general rule, I enter almost all of them ending that day. &nbsp;But I'm book crazy.<br /><br />Since I only decided to do this this morning, I didn't have a list of giveaways to pass your way. &nbsp;I will be compiling a list for next week, though. &nbsp;If you're a blogger who wants your giveaways listed in this feature, please either leave me a comment or e-mail me at tpisces at gmail dot com.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6169312327675576736-8541897449391691872?l=sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Amber DiTulliohttps://profiles.google.com/110383382274245312911noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6169312327675576736.post-2136829940018685702012-01-06T17:22:00.001-06:002012-01-06T17:22:38.685-06:00I've had a situation tonight that I just need to vent about and maybe, just maybe, get some insight into how I could have handled this. &nbsp;So please, leave your thoughts on this in the comments section because I'd really like your input.<br /><br /><b><u>The Situation, and How I Handled It</u></b><br /><b><u><br /></u></b><br />It is actually a multi-part situation, starting when Teddy got home from school. &nbsp;He came in the door, relatively happy, and asked for something to eat. &nbsp;I told him I'd peel a Cutie for him, but he said he didn't want that. &nbsp;He wanted a fruit snack. &nbsp;In his mind, a fruit snack was as good as fruit. &nbsp;I told him that no, a fruit snack <i>wasn't</i>&nbsp;fruit, even though it has the word fruit in it's name. &nbsp;I tried to remind him that we're trying to eat healthier now. &nbsp;His response was to throw shoes and toys at me, run up to me to head-butt me, and try to knock me off balance. &nbsp;With each thing he did, I escalated punishment: No electronics, no dessert, taking away his brand new Angry Bird, sending him to bed early. &nbsp;I told him to go sit on the stairs, yet the yelling and hitting and throwing continued until I took a step toward him. &nbsp;Only then did he do what he was told.<br /><br />This is when I stopped and took a breath. &nbsp;I knew that I'd been making the situation worse rather than getting him to calm down. &nbsp;Escalating punishments don't work with him. &nbsp;But sometimes I get anger locked. &nbsp;So I took a deep breath and sat on the step below him. &nbsp;I explained, as calmly and as understandingly as I could, why I preferred him to have a clementine rather than the fruit snacks - the fruit snacks aren't as healthy as the fruit is, the fruit snacks are a "sometimes" food, saved for lunches rather than after school snacks (he gets both a packet of fruit snacks and a clementine for lunch, along with his sandwich and drink). &nbsp;I don't know if he understood what I was saying - it's hard for a 5 year old to understand that "fruit snack" is more a clever marketing ploy than it is gospel truth. &nbsp;But I did also tell him that I'd overreacted by putting so many punishments on him, and that I was (for the moment) bringing it back to just one.<br /><br />Initially, I said "no electronics", but then remembered the package that came in the mail today. We'd bought Teddy a used DS (so we could have our own DS's back) for his birthday and were considering giving it to him as an early birthday gift (so we could have our own DS's back sooner). &nbsp;If Rich decided he wanted to give it to him tonight, I didn't want to put the kibosh on that. &nbsp;So I changed it to no dessert instead. &nbsp;There was some wailing and gnashing of teeth at that - he really wanted the last of the pistachio ice cream. &nbsp;But finally he accepted it.<br /><br />Before I had a chance to come back to the computer (finishing some&nbsp;maintenance for my other two blogs), he'd run in here to get on the computer. &nbsp;Because, obviously, Mommy saying that electronics weren't taken away meant he had the right to be on the computer right at that moment. &nbsp;I told him that he needed to finish up a few things first, and then I would let him be on the computer. &nbsp;He wasn't happy with it, but this house isn't a democracy... or even if it were, he's not of voting age yet. &nbsp;Three or four times, within 10 minutes, he came in asking, "Can I use the computer now?" &nbsp;And each time I told him that he needed to be patient, I was still finishing up what I was in the middle of.<br /><br />The last time he got this answer, he laid down on the floor and switched off the power strip that all of the computer equipment is plugged into. &nbsp;I don't have a battery backup. &nbsp;So everything I was working on went away. (Thankfully for auto-save, I didn't have to reconstruct too much once the computer was back up and running.) &nbsp;Immediately, I told him that he'd lost computer&nbsp;privileges&nbsp;for the rest of the day. &nbsp;No computer, no DS, no GameBoy, no choosing what was on the television. &nbsp;No electronics, period. &nbsp;"But, Mommy," he cried, "I just wanted to find out what it would do!" &nbsp;He's smart enough to know what it does, since it looks exactly like the one in the living room that his brother turns on and off, plunging us into darkness.<br /><br />I was hot. &nbsp;Very hot. &nbsp;I told him to go upstairs to his room. &nbsp;I needed time to calm down. &nbsp;But within a minute, I heard him coming back downstairs. &nbsp;"I want an orange, Mommy." &nbsp;Too late. &nbsp;Back to your room. &nbsp;There was quite a bit of this back and forth, including threats that he'd be in bed for the rest of the night. &nbsp;Once I got calmed down, I told him (since this time he'd actually made it downstairs) that Daddy and I would talk about it when he got home, but he needed to stay in his room until Daddy got home. &nbsp;He misunderstood it to mean that he would stay <i>downstairs</i>&nbsp;until Daddy got home and became very angry when I told him to go upstairs... multiple times.<br /><br />This time, my limit was reached. &nbsp;Because in his anger, he came into the dining room and toppled over our recycling bins. &nbsp;We've got a two-tiered set that also is a bit of a catch-all for stuff, so there was a lot that went spilling all over the floor when he pushed it down. &nbsp;I told him to get upstairs and that he was going to be in bed for the rest of the night. &nbsp;I did NOT want to see him, hear from him or even know he existed for the rest of the night.<br /><br />Of course, he doesn't stay where he's supposed to. &nbsp;He's five. &nbsp;Following directions still isn't high on their priority list. &nbsp;While I was cleaning up the mess (which also gave me a good excuse to weed through a few of the things as I'd been meaning to all week), he came downstairs again. &nbsp;With tears in his eyes, he told me, "But Mommy, I was going to clean it up." &nbsp;At this point, I was still too angry. &nbsp;I knew that having him clean up his own mess SHOULD have been what I had him do. &nbsp;But I needed the activity to get myself back under control. &nbsp;I told him that he needed to go back upstairs to his room.<br /><br />He's only been downstairs one time since then and that was only partway down the stairs. &nbsp;It was to apologize to me for knocking over the recycling bin. &nbsp;I accepted his apology and told him that he needed to go back upstairs. &nbsp;When Daddy got home, we'd all talk about it. &nbsp;And right now, Daddy's home, so it's time to talk.<br /><br />But before I go, I want to ask.... <b>how would you have handled this?</b><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6169312327675576736-213682994001868570?l=sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Amber DiTulliohttps://profiles.google.com/110383382274245312911noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6169312327675576736.post-88783466930176494962012-01-06T15:51:00.001-06:002012-01-06T15:51:44.843-06:00I never got yesterday's picture uploaded, though it was taken. &nbsp;And today's picture... well it's just too cute for words!<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iIyJlaOJPVw/TwdngV4l66I/AAAAAAAAHUg/c61vxL2IMBA/s1600/DSCN1347.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iIyJlaOJPVw/TwdngV4l66I/AAAAAAAAHUg/c61vxL2IMBA/s320/DSCN1347.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">January 5, 2012</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Rex is getting his exercise with his mouth. &nbsp;I think Pete was the one who put the barbell in his mouth.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mFnq1GngP18/TwdnkBxR9sI/AAAAAAAAHVI/A9L_rgEN8G0/s1600/DSCN1353.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mFnq1GngP18/TwdnkBxR9sI/AAAAAAAAHVI/A9L_rgEN8G0/s320/DSCN1353.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">January 6, 2012</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>I had to stop at Kroger after I picked up Pete from PDO. &nbsp;Since there were only a few things that I needed to get, I decided to grab one of the smaller carts with the hope that Pete would behave (since there's no child seat in these carts). &nbsp;Instead, once we got to check-out, Pete decided that he was tired of walking. &nbsp;While I was trying to give my Kroger card and pay for my groceries, he climbed into the bottom of the cart. I couldn't resist taking a picture of him. &nbsp;He just knows how cute he is. &nbsp;Even the cashier got a chuckle out of him.</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6169312327675576736-8878346693017649496?l=sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Amber DiTulliohttps://profiles.google.com/110383382274245312911noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6169312327675576736.post-6150676017567110272012-01-06T11:39:00.003-06:002012-01-06T12:24:55.282-06:00I wear glasses. &nbsp;Every day, no matter where I am and what I do, these glasses are on me. &nbsp;And they color how I see the world.<br /><br />Because these aren't regular glasses - though I do wear those as well. &nbsp;No, these are the special glasses that you hear about, usually when talking about someone overly&nbsp;optimistic. &nbsp;You know the ones that I mean. &nbsp;The ones with the rose tinted lenses.<br /><br />But mine aren't rose tinted. &nbsp;Or, at least, they aren't always rose tinted. &nbsp;Mine are transitions lenses. &nbsp;They slip from a rosy gold to a uniform gray, sometimes in a matter of minutes, sometimes over the period of several hours or days. &nbsp;And they don't transition based on the sunlight. &nbsp;The transition based on... honestly, I'm not sure.<br /><br />Because one minute, I can be sitting in my home, feeling the warm sunlight spilling through the windows. &nbsp;The world around me tinges faintly with the brightness of that sun. &nbsp;My thoughts become clearer. &nbsp;My mind more focused. &nbsp;I can see possibilities and answers that I'd never imagined before. &nbsp;I am convinced, thanks to that glow, that I can do anything I set my mind to. &nbsp;Be a good mommy. Lose weight. &nbsp;Complete 101 tasks in 1,001 days. &nbsp;Make a name for myself in the Blogging community. &nbsp;I can be who I want to be.<br /><br />But then the lenses start to darken a little. &nbsp;Maybe it's the sun going behind a cloud. &nbsp;Maybe it's a letter or a blog post that I've read. Maybe it's children coming home and wrecking in 10 minutes things that took me 3 hours to put to rights. &nbsp;Maybe it's nothing. &nbsp;But the lenses darken and the doubts start to surface. &nbsp;My son is obese How much of it is my fault? &nbsp;Am I using genetics as a crutch? &nbsp;The kids won't listen and I lose my temper. &nbsp;Am I scaring them for life? &nbsp;What makes me think I can lose weight? &nbsp;I've tried for 30-odd years to be skinny and it's never happened. &nbsp;What's so different now that I didn't have before? &nbsp;I've never been able to follow through with anything longer than a couple weeks. &nbsp;What makes me think that I'll stick with something for 101 days. &nbsp;My blog is boring and derivative. &nbsp;There are so many more interesting ones out there, ones getting the traffic. &nbsp;What makes me think I can compete in this arena?<br /><br />By the time this last doubt has crossed my mind, the lenses show the grayness of the world. &nbsp;Yes, the sun is shining through the window, but it's a weak winter sun rather than a bright summer sun. &nbsp;There are still spots on the carpet that I missed getting up, or particles near my baseboards that anyone with even one bad eye would notice the minute they walk in. I am a failure. &nbsp;I am kidding myself that I'll ever be good or successful at anything. &nbsp;My kids will never obey me, so why do I try? &nbsp;Even when I try to discipline them, they don't seem to care. &nbsp;So why am I doing this? &nbsp;Maybe I should just let the world pass me by. &nbsp;It will be happier without my constant presence.<br /><br />The lenses do eventually regain their rosy glow, but it takes much longer for them to transition from dark to light than they did from light to dark. &nbsp;It is harder to see the beauty in even a winter sunbeam when the doubts draw my attention from the edge of my vision.<br /><br />Yes, I wear glasses. &nbsp;Special glasses.<br /><br />They're called Depression.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6169312327675576736-615067601756711027?l=sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Amber DiTulliohttps://profiles.google.com/110383382274245312911noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6169312327675576736.post-55140828905913606802012-01-05T09:09:00.001-06:002012-01-05T09:09:28.645-06:00As I sit in the dining room, <strike>futzing on the computer</strike>&nbsp;contemplating my To Do list for today, I hear Peter in the other room. &nbsp;I've put on <i>Dora the Explorer</i>&nbsp;at his request. &nbsp;I listen to him answering Dora's questions, shouting out what he sees and where, chuckling a little at his three-year-old&nbsp;pronunciation&nbsp;of some words (like pinata as peeyaya). &nbsp;He's learning good things, and I'm ok with this.<br /><br />Then the episode comes to an end. &nbsp;I know what will be coming next, and I'm not wrong. &nbsp;Peter comes running down the hall. &nbsp;But instead of the usual, "More Doah ee Espo-oh," he cries out, "Mama!" and runs to my arms. He climbs on my lap and snuggles in, small head resting on my collarbone, thumb in his mouth, legs crossed across my legs. &nbsp;I slip both arms around him and hold him tight. &nbsp;"Mommy, you my bes' fwen," he tells me. &nbsp;I snuggle him closer.<br /><br />I relish these moments. &nbsp;Teddy is now far too big to snuggle on my lap. &nbsp;And it won't be long until Pete leaves this faze of childhood to move on to one without as much snuggling. &nbsp;It won't be long before he's too big to jump up into my arms, wrap his legs around my waist and his arms around my neck, letting me carry him a little further. &nbsp;It won't be long before the cute, baby-doll cries of, "Mama" turn to an exasperated, "Moooom". The days of babyhood are fast retreating (he's already telling me, "I not a baby anymo', Mommy. &nbsp;I a big kid!") and I know that, despite the&nbsp;temper tantrums&nbsp;and refusal to listen, despite the poopy diapers and toys strewn everywhere on a daily basis, I'm going to miss these days. &nbsp;Oh, I know there will be other, fantastic days to come. &nbsp;But they won't be these days.<br /><br />So I try to hold on as long as Pete will let me, feeling his warmth snuggled against me while we talk about his friends and his family, which dinosaur each member of the family is (for the record, I'm a velociraptor, Rich is a brachiosaurus, Teddy is a T-Rex and Pete is a T-Rex <b>and</b>&nbsp;a triceratops - pronounced "tri-ter-top") and what he's been watching. <br /><br />In far too short of a time, he tries to wiggle free of me and, sadly, I let him. &nbsp;"More Doah ee Espo-oh, Mommy! &nbsp;Come on!" &nbsp;Standing on the floor in front of me, he reaches for my hand to pull me along to the living room. &nbsp;And I think, "It's great being Mommy."<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7JmdKtePGnk/TwTUYiM2obI/AAAAAAAAHSI/b64dBNP4ylI/s1600/DSCN1283.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7JmdKtePGnk/TwTUYiM2obI/AAAAAAAAHSI/b64dBNP4ylI/s320/DSCN1283.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My baby, still snuggleable size</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6169312327675576736-5514082890591360680?l=sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Amber DiTulliohttps://profiles.google.com/110383382274245312911noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6169312327675576736.post-36087062238840796612012-01-04T17:00:00.000-06:002012-01-04T17:00:02.344-06:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YWiI0ZeBiqk/TwTU4xCxAoI/AAAAAAAAHNQ/OmkX7lDfsfA/s1600/DSCN1290.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YWiI0ZeBiqk/TwTU4xCxAoI/AAAAAAAAHNQ/OmkX7lDfsfA/s320/DSCN1290.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">December 31, 2011</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9rkbjFbVGpg/TwTV8BHt8jI/AAAAAAAAHTQ/0oaRU_R45zI/s1600/DSCN1312.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9rkbjFbVGpg/TwTV8BHt8jI/AAAAAAAAHTQ/0oaRU_R45zI/s320/DSCN1312.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">January 1, 2012</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eGTWMMmuQw8/TwTXP022vOI/AAAAAAAAHQw/K9q5RaiIBs0/s1600/DSCN1333.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eGTWMMmuQw8/TwTXP022vOI/AAAAAAAAHQw/K9q5RaiIBs0/s320/DSCN1333.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">January 2, 2012</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-v5Am-LjRj_s/TwTXXhzdh3I/AAAAAAAAHRU/2E4WyQn6sgk/s1600/DSCN1336.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-v5Am-LjRj_s/TwTXXhzdh3I/AAAAAAAAHRU/2E4WyQn6sgk/s320/DSCN1336.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">January 3, 2012</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PPryokmsFBA/TwTXhwiQvEI/AAAAAAAAHQ4/PZpD3TMrdMc/s1600/DSCN1339.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PPryokmsFBA/TwTXhwiQvEI/AAAAAAAAHQ4/PZpD3TMrdMc/s320/DSCN1339.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">January 4, 2012</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><br /><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6169312327675576736-3608706223884079661?l=sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Amber DiTulliohttps://profiles.google.com/110383382274245312911noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6169312327675576736.post-21334297878948050422012-01-01T10:42:00.000-06:002012-01-01T10:42:24.701-06:002011 was a rough year here. &nbsp;We dealt with unexpected cancer (which, thankfully, they got all of), major surgery, bullying in school, and familial issues best not aired to the world. &nbsp;Financially, it could have been better. &nbsp;Bu in the end, I was able to celebrate the moment when 2011 left us and 2012 came into being with my husband and children (though Pete was asleep, Teddy managed to make it to midnight).<br /><br />I have a lot of changes planned for 2012. &nbsp;There are a lot of things that I'm hoping to do to not only better myself but better the world around me. &nbsp;I've restarted my&nbsp;<a href="http://amber101in1001.blogspot.com/p/101-goals-in-1001-days-list.html" target="_blank">101 in 1,001 list</a>&nbsp;and even rebooted the blog that went with it. &nbsp;I'm hoping that with the last year of fairly regular blogging (between here and&nbsp;<a href="http://viewsfromthereaderside.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Views from the Reader Side</a>) that I'll be able to keep up fairly regularly. Because I want to make this work. &nbsp;And I'm determined.<br /><br />What do I want to accomplish in 2012? &nbsp;Quite a few things.<br /><br />I want to save $2,400. &nbsp;That's $200 a month. &nbsp;Since we no longer have the car payment, putting that money aside should be doable. &nbsp;Eventually, we want to buy a house. &nbsp;And the only way that we're going to be able to do that is by saving now. <br /><br />I want to be able to keep my home from CHAOS (for those unfamiliar with&nbsp;<a href="http://flylady.net/" target="_blank">FlyLady</a>, it's "Can't Have Anyone Over Syndrome"). &nbsp;I'm going to try to come up with a schedule of things that need to be done every day to keep on top of things. &nbsp;I'm going to push the boys, Rich and myself to clean as we go and make sure each night, we go to bed with everything put away the way it should be. &nbsp;I'm going to find better ways for organization, things like hooks on the walls for purses/backpacks/lunchboxes, baskets to keep each person's things in and a Shoe Station for shoes to go into when they come off in the house. &nbsp;I'm going to make my house a place I want to come back to.<br /><br />I'm going to start therapy up again. &nbsp;I've had a lot of depression issues in 2011 that I need to fight off. &nbsp;I need someone to talk to when things get rough. &nbsp;And my friends... yes, they help. &nbsp;And they help a LOT. &nbsp;Writing does help, but it doesn't give the feedback that I always need. &nbsp;So I'm going to start talking to someone professional again. &nbsp;It's a step toward making me better.<br /><br />I'm going to be more diligent about my reviews and my rating for swaps. &nbsp;I need to be more responsible about things, and that's a good place to start.<br /><br />I'm going to work harder at losing weight. &nbsp;I'm not going to bring the fattening things into the house and I'm going to put more exercise into my day. &nbsp;As a help to this (and something to better me in general), I'm going to spend less time on the computer and more time playing with my boys (preferably outside).<br /><br />This aren't the only things I want to accomplish. &nbsp;I want to blog more and get back to being a part of my blogging communities. &nbsp;I want to write more and hopefully participate in NaNoWriMo and NaNoBloMo. &nbsp;I want to end 2012 feeling good about myself, my family and my world. &nbsp;And I know that none of this is going to happen overnight. &nbsp;I need to keep plugging away at these things. &nbsp;Because success isn't instantaneous. &nbsp;It's something that needs to be worked toward. &nbsp;And that is my biggest goal - working toward the things that I want to happen in 2012 and for the rest of my life.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6169312327675576736-2133429787894805042?l=sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Amber DiTulliohttps://profiles.google.com/110383382274245312911noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6169312327675576736.post-76436686925288779812011-12-28T23:00:00.001-06:002011-12-28T23:00:46.802-06:00As some of you know, but many others may not, Sanity's Overrated isn't the only blog that I maintain. &nbsp;Recently, I started a new one to keep my reading logs in one place and tonight, I restarted an old blog to keep track of the 101 goals that I hope to complete in 1001 days.<br /><br /><a href="http://viewsfromthereaderside.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Views from the Reader Side</a>&nbsp;is my reading blog. &nbsp;I do book reviews (usually ported directly from my&nbsp;<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/662017-amber" target="_blank">Goodreads account</a>), update reading challenges that I'm participating in, talk about books that I've won, what I'm reading, and occasionally news from the Book world that I find interesting. &nbsp;I know many people enjoyed reading my book reviews here, and I'm hoping you'll head over to Views to keep following them there.<br /><br /><a href="http://amber101in1001.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Amber's 101 Goals in 1001 Days</a>&nbsp;was a blog that I started three years ago to keep track of my goals for my first attempt at completing the 101 in 1001. &nbsp;As you can tell by reading it, I didn't get far and didn't keep it up. &nbsp;Now that I'm a more regular blogger, I'm hoping that I'll be able to keep track of things a little better. &nbsp;Please follow me on my journey as I try to better myself, my world and my family. &nbsp;You can see the goals that I've set for myself, and my progress on those goals,&nbsp;<a href="http://amber101in1001.blogspot.com/p/101-goals-in-1001-days-list.html" target="_blank">here</a>. &nbsp;I'm hoping that this will be something I can follow through on.<br /><br />I'll be changing the layout, updating banners and backgrounds and making both sites more user friendly as time goes on. &nbsp;If you have suggestions for things that would make any of my blogs better, please let me know. &nbsp;Because while I blog for me, I want it to be some place you enjoy visiting.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6169312327675576736-7643668692528877981?l=sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Amber DiTulliohttps://profiles.google.com/110383382274245312911noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6169312327675576736.post-25568659583334166432011-12-28T20:45:00.002-06:002011-12-28T20:45:58.355-06:00This year was a slower Christmas. &nbsp;Without everyone else living at my Dad's house, we didn't have the big Christmas there that we usually have. &nbsp;Instead, we stayed home for the day, planning to go up and see my Dad this week when my sister and her family were in town. &nbsp;(We were supposed to go today, but that's been shunted to tomorrow because Pete's sick.) &nbsp;So it was a far more laid back Christmas than we've had since Teddy was really little.<br /><br />The boys were told that they weren't allowed to wake us up before 7 and they weren't allowed to go downstairs without us. &nbsp;And they were pretty good about it. &nbsp;At 6:45, they came in because Pete had a nightmare and rather than make them go back to bed, we got up and were ready to head downstairs and see what Santa had left us.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jc_mcACt9GE/TvdKxiNK5tI/AAAAAAAAHII/TyFnfIvNSiM/s1600/DSCN1197.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jc_mcACt9GE/TvdKxiNK5tI/AAAAAAAAHII/TyFnfIvNSiM/s320/DSCN1197.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />The kids were excited about what they got me and wanted me to open my gifts first, but I convinced them to take turns between themselves and after that, Mommy and Daddy would take turns. &nbsp;There were gifts from us, gifts from Grandma and Grandpa, gifts from Nonni and Pop, gifts from Great Aunt Rosemary and Great Uncle George and gifts from Pete's godfather (and Rich's cousin), Will. &nbsp;They were rolling in gifts.<br /><br />While all of them were well loved, there were a few obvious favorites.<br /><br />For Teddy:<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MDScLQOHUfw/TvdLc7Q6h8I/AAAAAAAAG9o/wKpPM_q_r1k/s1600/DSCN1220.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MDScLQOHUfw/TvdLc7Q6h8I/AAAAAAAAG9o/wKpPM_q_r1k/s320/DSCN1220.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Nonni and Pop got Teddy the Pokemon Unova set.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xtHHmEwfziE/TvdMZm_7EoI/AAAAAAAAG-k/n1BtJFsPc0o/s1600/DSCN1237.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xtHHmEwfziE/TvdMZm_7EoI/AAAAAAAAG-k/n1BtJFsPc0o/s320/DSCN1237.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Teddy kept using our Pokemon Pearl and Platinum games, so we got him Pearl for himself.</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-o8nPVM__cm0/TvdNFhyFZsI/AAAAAAAAHCA/vryElEMvAKQ/s1600/DSCN1250.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-o8nPVM__cm0/TvdNFhyFZsI/AAAAAAAAHCA/vryElEMvAKQ/s320/DSCN1250.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We also picked up Platinum for him as well. &nbsp;He doesn't have a DS of his own yet, but I think that will be a birthday gift in February.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VVReu4msVmo/TvdMhEMWuMI/AAAAAAAAHIk/gDCgUKcGkOE/s1600/DSCN1239.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VVReu4msVmo/TvdMhEMWuMI/AAAAAAAAHIk/gDCgUKcGkOE/s320/DSCN1239.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I hadn't expected him to be quite so excited about the Bakugan we got him. &nbsp;But he didn't want to let them go.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0xY33izVi74/TvdN41uCc-I/AAAAAAAAG_4/ZiGXWqCCSoU/s1600/DSCN1261.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0xY33izVi74/TvdN41uCc-I/AAAAAAAAG_4/ZiGXWqCCSoU/s320/DSCN1261.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In an attempt to get a bit more exercise for the boys, I got Teddy a pair of Grow with Me Inline skates.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bEn_jXRnxlc/TvdLQvhYLpI/AAAAAAAAHHc/Lo-rDv4Z5BU/s1600/DSCN1215.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bEn_jXRnxlc/TvdLQvhYLpI/AAAAAAAAHHc/Lo-rDv4Z5BU/s320/DSCN1215.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Santa brought Teddy Scrabble Jr... something he'd been begging for!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ty618bizW1A/TvdNb1hHtrI/AAAAAAAAHCM/iMaN4bItzi0/s1600/DSCN1254.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ty618bizW1A/TvdNb1hHtrI/AAAAAAAAHCM/iMaN4bItzi0/s320/DSCN1254.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grandma and Grandpa won big with Pokemon shiny cards and a folio to keep them in. &nbsp;And this from grandparents who know nothing about Pokemon.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xqT37RnTX5g/TvdM9Y6BqMI/AAAAAAAAHB8/7rPWf1set_g/s1600/DSCN1248.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xqT37RnTX5g/TvdM9Y6BqMI/AAAAAAAAHB8/7rPWf1set_g/s320/DSCN1248.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And finally, the Pokemon Black and White manga, volume 1.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></td></tr></tbody></table>As you can tell, it's been a pretty Pokemon Christmas.<div><br /></div><div>For Pete, here are some of his highlights:</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qU8lvYMVFG8/TvdLJSD1sFI/AAAAAAAAHJI/443-nVXo1XI/s1600/DSCN1211.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qU8lvYMVFG8/TvdLJSD1sFI/AAAAAAAAHJI/443-nVXo1XI/s320/DSCN1211.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Sheets from Nonni &amp; Pop.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zUHuckh3PgY/TvdLaCZAdvI/AAAAAAAAHGQ/tnZcKsSy7Ec/s1600/DSCN1218.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zUHuckh3PgY/TvdLaCZAdvI/AAAAAAAAHGQ/tnZcKsSy7Ec/s320/DSCN1218.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alphie from Nonni &amp; Pop... and he's been playing with him for days.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Hrmifx6Fw3E/TvdLt6pVaYI/AAAAAAAAHJo/xSv5rzxzSao/s1600/DSCN1226.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Hrmifx6Fw3E/TvdLt6pVaYI/AAAAAAAAHJo/xSv5rzxzSao/s320/DSCN1226.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Santa brought a Dinosaur Train motorized set. &nbsp;It hasn't been set up yet (no room until we do some cleaning) but he wants it to be!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pmqDgjms-XA/TvdMv7DyXHI/AAAAAAAAHIw/6RlxCPeOJ1c/s1600/DSCN1243.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pmqDgjms-XA/TvdMv7DyXHI/AAAAAAAAHIw/6RlxCPeOJ1c/s320/DSCN1243.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In trying to help him work on his numbers, Pete got a Chat &amp; Count phone.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jIELQbwsgjE/TvdMyQPAENI/AAAAAAAAHBE/oKa3gHJ0g4U/s1600/DSCN1246.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jIELQbwsgjE/TvdMyQPAENI/AAAAAAAAHBE/oKa3gHJ0g4U/s320/DSCN1246.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some Dinosaur Train figures to go with his playset.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UfZlSMKHO8U/TvdNfFzln6I/AAAAAAAAG_g/RgVpSvy4SBA/s1600/DSCN1255.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UfZlSMKHO8U/TvdNfFzln6I/AAAAAAAAG_g/RgVpSvy4SBA/s320/DSCN1255.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A book about Dinosaurs from Grandma and Grandpa</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VaJDQRF1jDU/TvdNWFup_SI/AAAAAAAAHI4/ifa1TuI9NVk/s1600/DSCN1253.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VaJDQRF1jDU/TvdNWFup_SI/AAAAAAAAHI4/ifa1TuI9NVk/s320/DSCN1253.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grandma and Grandpa also picked up dinosaur figures for Mommy &amp; Daddy to step on.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-r4D4IeBVPhU/TvdNs8i0A4I/AAAAAAAAHJE/fCBCzt6Ern8/s1600/DSCN1257.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-r4D4IeBVPhU/TvdNs8i0A4I/AAAAAAAAHJE/fCBCzt6Ern8/s320/DSCN1257.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">While Teddy got the inline skates, Pete got Grow with Me Roller Skates</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vURfc66kcMU/TvdNys4aiQI/AAAAAAAAHE0/ufrZ3408nLs/s1600/DSCN1259.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vURfc66kcMU/TvdNys4aiQI/AAAAAAAAHE0/ufrZ3408nLs/s320/DSCN1259.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thanks to Aunt Rosemary and Uncle George, he has a new bedtime friend in Roaring Rex.</td></tr></tbody></table><br />There was one big win for the whole family:<div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GqEPA-AC8mA/TvdL3U7YydI/AAAAAAAAHIE/dN164A9GnVE/s1600/DSCN1228.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GqEPA-AC8mA/TvdL3U7YydI/AAAAAAAAHIE/dN164A9GnVE/s320/DSCN1228.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Season 1 of Pokemon, Indigo League</td></tr></tbody></table><br />For Rich, the big winner was, I believe, a bunch of comics and graphic novels from his loving wife:<div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-J0rJqNdSMHQ/TvdOxgwIw8I/AAAAAAAAHD4/i-NIQZiqxck/s1600/DSCN1275.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-J0rJqNdSMHQ/TvdOxgwIw8I/AAAAAAAAHD4/i-NIQZiqxck/s320/DSCN1275.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beanworld, Vol 1 &amp; 2</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mMEyimhcydE/TvdO08r28LI/AAAAAAAAHD8/WjsYQszuuDc/s1600/DSCN1277.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mMEyimhcydE/TvdO08r28LI/AAAAAAAAHD8/WjsYQszuuDc/s320/DSCN1277.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eternals, Vol 1 &amp; 2, and PVP, Vol 5</td></tr></tbody></table><br />As for me? &nbsp;Well, along with the various DS games that I got from Rich, the boys got me my favorite:<div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-J4VLfkM0FQQ/TvdObxWmpWI/AAAAAAAAHAY/fq2WPpF7hFE/s1600/DSCN1270.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-J4VLfkM0FQQ/TvdObxWmpWI/AAAAAAAAHAY/fq2WPpF7hFE/s320/DSCN1270.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My Zebra pillow pet.</td></tr></tbody></table><br />And finally, I pooled together the various bits of Christmas money that I received and bought myself a Kindle Fire. &nbsp;I've been wanting an eReader for awhile, as well as an android/iPad/tablet/something that runs apps. &nbsp;This melds the two of them nicely. &nbsp;It's the most I've ever spent on a Christmas gift for myself and I'm really looking forward to it's arrival on Friday.<div><div><br /><div>I hope everyone else had a wonderful Christmas (for those who celebrate such things) and are enjoying the end of 2011. &nbsp;May 2012 be even better for you.<br /><div><br /><div><br /><br /></div></div></div></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6169312327675576736-2556865958333416643?l=sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Amber DiTulliohttps://profiles.google.com/110383382274245312911noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6169312327675576736.post-26303890389070613772011-12-28T19:53:00.001-06:002011-12-28T19:53:32.309-06:00This afternoon, at Teddy's request, he and Rich sat down and figured out the Pokemon 12 Days of Christmas. &nbsp;Teddy was most of the way there so it's definitely his baby. &nbsp;He wanted me to share it. &nbsp;And rather than write out the whole things, I'm going to start on Day 12. &nbsp;(Since most of you know how the 12 Days of Christmas goes anyway.)<br /><br />On the Twelfth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me<br />Twelve Squirtles squirting<br />Eleven Swellows flying<br />Ten Chimchars blazing<br />Nine Sandiles digging<br />Eight Miltanks milking<br />Seven Muks a sludging<br />Six Klinks a clanging<br />Five Ultra Balls<br />Four apricorns<br />Three TMs<br />Two Blazikens<br />And a Snivy on a vine whip.<br /><br />He has his daddy's love of parody.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6169312327675576736-2630389038907061377?l=sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Amber DiTulliohttps://profiles.google.com/110383382274245312911noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6169312327675576736.post-13750250549780811452011-12-22T07:32:00.002-06:002011-12-22T07:32:34.785-06:00There is a common bit of parenting wisdom that says a way to get your kids to do their chores is to make it fun. &nbsp;Make picking up toys a race with a prize at the end. Turn on music while cleaning and dance while you work. Call out a piece of the table setting and have the kids set the table with that piece as quickly as possible. &nbsp;Anything to turn it into a fun game, which makes your kids WANT to help.<br /><br />But when did we, as adults, stop thinking about making our chores fun? &nbsp;When did chores become a chore, something that needed to be done regardless of how we feel about them? &nbsp;When did the drudgery begin? &nbsp;And why do we need it to continue?<br /><br />I, for one, am not going to do chores for chores sake any longer. &nbsp;No longer will I force myself to fold laundry with an aching back, or lug heavy furniture out of the way so I can vacuum it. &nbsp;No longer will I be an automaton as I load dishes in the dishwasher or clean up after the kids have gone to bed.<br /><br /><i>But Amber</i>, I hear some of you say, <i>won't that result in even MORE chaos than you already have? &nbsp;I mean... you've always had problems with housekeeping...</i><br /><i><br /></i><br />True. &nbsp;Very true. &nbsp;But part of the reason that I have problems with housekeeping is that it's not enjoyable. &nbsp;The computer calls to me far more loudly than the load of laundry waiting to be folded. &nbsp;And more often than not, the computer wins. &nbsp;But I'm not giving up on chores all together, planning on living in ever increasing&nbsp;squalor. No, I'm changing <i>how</i>&nbsp;I clean, not <i>if</i>&nbsp;I clean. &nbsp;I'm not going to do chores for chores sake but do them because I can make them fun, like I do for my boys.<br /><br />I've been partway there for awhile, listening to audio books when I clean. &nbsp;But that isn't as feasible when the boys are around (since I need to listen for the crashes that tell me that they've gotten into something else that they weren't supposed to). &nbsp;But I need other ideas, other ways to make things fun.<br /><br />When cleaning the living room, I'm going to put music on and dance while I clean. &nbsp;When sorting and organizing, I'm going to make a game to see how many of each item I have. &nbsp;I'm going to bring the kids into things more regularly.<br /><br />2012 will be the year of fun.<br /><br />So now I ask you, gentle readers, how do <i>you</i>&nbsp;make the everyday chores fun? &nbsp;Because I'm always up for new ideas.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6169312327675576736-1375025054978081145?l=sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Amber DiTulliohttps://profiles.google.com/110383382274245312911noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6169312327675576736.post-24990845050853286942011-12-04T10:49:00.001-06:002011-12-04T10:50:46.617-06:00<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;">Kroger is my shopping store of choice. &nbsp;Their prices are great, the people are friendly and their brand of items are often as good as the name brand. &nbsp;So when BzzAgent gave me an opportunity to try their new The Truly Awesome Homestyle Chocolate Chip Cookies, I jumped at the chance.</span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" src="http://img.bzzagent.com/image/krogerTACookies.jpg?Type=activity&amp;Activity=2960275186&amp;Campaign=3564413534&amp;Uid=511170&amp;token=c9b3b01dfc75b250f9e21e578893dd16" /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;">They arrived in the mail and immediately, both Teddy and Peter wanted one. They love cookies. &nbsp;I convinced them to wait until snack time and then gave each of them one, while trying one myself. &nbsp;While I generally prefer chewy cookies, this was definitely one of the best crunchy cookies I've had. &nbsp;There are large chunks of chocolate chips throughout each cookie so you get chocolate with every bite. It really reminds me of cookies I've made in the past. &nbsp;And the boys enjoyed it too, asking for another one and doing their best not to leave any for their father. &nbsp;(I didn't let them go that crazy, though I did give them a second cookie because I really wanted a second cookie.)</span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;">These cookies were so good that when I saw them in Kroger the other day, I picked up four boxes. &nbsp;I don't expect those four boxes will last long in my house...</span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;">Disclosure: I received the above product for free from BzzAgent with the request that I review it and pass along my opinion. &nbsp;I was not given any monetary reward for trying the cookies, just a little something to take care of my sweet tooth.</span></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6169312327675576736-2499084505085328694?l=sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Amber DiTulliohttps://profiles.google.com/110383382274245312911noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6169312327675576736.post-49015934524910808382011-12-03T17:47:00.001-06:002011-12-03T17:57:38.929-06:00Earlier today, I wish I'd had my camera to immortalize something that happened at the library. &nbsp;But memory will have to do...<br /><br />Rich had to tutor today at our local library. &nbsp;We got a later start than we'd planned and I had to drop him off before I could run another errand and come back for our own book search. &nbsp;Since Rich was busy when I got back, I had to keep an eye on the boys. &nbsp;Pete was being a three year old and only wanting to do what he wanted to do - which meant sitting in the children's section. &nbsp;Great for him, not so great for me when I had two books to pick up that had been on hold and two more that I'd wanted to grab as well. &nbsp;So I asked Teddy to keep an eye on him. <br /><br />I wasn't too worried about it because Rich was just one table over and everyone in the library knows our boys. &nbsp;I had to make a quick run to pick up the two from hold, then over a couple shelves for the other two I wanted. &nbsp;Five minutes max and I'd still be fairly close.<br /><br />I grabbed the books as quickly as I could and came back to hear Teddy talking. &nbsp;I stopped to listen. &nbsp;He was reading aloud. &nbsp;When I looked around the corner, he and Pete were seated next to each other on the kids chairs and Teddy was reading "There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed Some Snow" to his little brother. &nbsp;And Pete was listening with rapt attention.<br /><br />I asked the boys if they wanted to check out and Teddy looked up. &nbsp;"Can I finish the story first, Mommy?" &nbsp;It made my heart soar. &nbsp;I gave him permission and went over a few rows (so I could still see where they were) to grab an audio book.<br /><br />I love that my boys love books. &nbsp;And I love even more that they share books with one another. &nbsp;In a few years, Pete won't need Teddy to read to him. &nbsp;But at that time, we can start sharing longer stories as a family. &nbsp;It's something I hope never ends.<br /><br /><br /><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6169312327675576736-4901593452491080838?l=sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Amber DiTulliohttps://profiles.google.com/110383382274245312911noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6169312327675576736.post-88713825370572405872011-12-02T14:48:00.001-06:002011-12-02T15:02:11.383-06:00<a href="http://samanthasaturday9.blogspot.com/"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489410573646628226" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ERmSLV1iXyg/TC5N1SR7BYI/AAAAAAAAAb4/7VQMnbo_wgA/s320/holiday+logo12.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 79px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><br /><br /><b>1. “Everybody lies. But it's alright because nobody listens.” is one of Bud's Law's. What do you lie about? </b>It usually involves not answering the phone. &nbsp;I've got a strong phone phobia and even when people I know call, I'll not feel like talking. &nbsp;So I'll let it ring and pretend I'm not around.<br /><br /><b>2. When you purchase a DVD, what besides the the movie itself, what do you enjoy the most? Is it the director's commentary, the deleted scenes, the bloopers or the behind-the-scenes documentary? </b>I really love the bloopers. &nbsp;I love to see the mistakes that are made and how the cast interacts with one another.<br /><br /><b>3. What would you most like to accomplish before the year is over? </b>Finish cleaning my house - that includes going through every box and bag to get rid of the things that I don't use any more.<br /><br /><b>4. What is your current percentage of online shopping? Is it going to be more this year than last? </b>Maybe about 10%. &nbsp;I've purchased a few things online, but mostly I went to the stores to get what I wanted. &nbsp;I think I may have purchased a few more items online this year, but only a negligible amount.<br /><br /><b>5. What's left to do at your place (or where you are going)? Is the tree up? ...or maybe you're just happy you found that fave Christmas coffee mug and are calling that good? </b>I haven't done any decorating yet. &nbsp;The tree probably won't go up until after my in-laws have come and gone because I don't know where I'm going to put it. &nbsp;But I do want to get the other lights and things up. &nbsp;I also need to wrap the gifts I've purchased and buy a few stocking stuffers. &nbsp;Honestly, I'm much further ahead than I usually am this time of year.<br /><br /><b>6. If you could get worry free, cost free plastic surgery, would you? If yes, where? </b>Not plastic surgery, no. &nbsp;I'm pretty happy with the body that I have.<br /><br /><b>7. Do you think the child you were growing up, would like the adult you've become? </b>I think she'd be surprised. &nbsp;I am a mom, like I'd wanted to be back then. &nbsp;But I'm not a teacher. &nbsp;I'd hope that she thinks me a good adult.<br /><br /><b>8. What will you miss about 2011? </b>Teddy starting school for the first time. &nbsp;There's no way I'll ever be able to repeat that experience, even when it's Pete's turn. &nbsp;Other than that, there's been a lot of not-good this year and I'll be glad to see the back side of the year.<br /><br /><b>9. What is something you'd love to see invented? </b>A hat-style ice pack. &nbsp;I get migraines that just about kill me and I often want ice everywhere on my head. &nbsp;Unfortunately, trying to find a way to make the flexible ice packs fit everywhere hasn't been too successful.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6169312327675576736-8871382537057240587?l=sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Amber DiTulliohttps://profiles.google.com/110383382274245312911noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6169312327675576736.post-23309266556254962262011-11-30T15:44:00.001-06:002011-11-30T15:49:17.709-06:00When I opened Teddy's school folder today, what should I see but school pictures! &nbsp;He looks so contemplative in it... And I'm not sure which coloring I like best.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cYNKEIR3Hn4/TtajjtPInVI/AAAAAAAAG4k/sR7I2xIgJec/s1600/bh1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cYNKEIR3Hn4/TtajjtPInVI/AAAAAAAAG4k/sR7I2xIgJec/s320/bh1.jpg" width="256" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black and White Teddy</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OXkDiaRhgF4/TtajlmrvsZI/AAAAAAAAG4s/iQ3Dfy2vBpQ/s1600/ch1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OXkDiaRhgF4/TtajlmrvsZI/AAAAAAAAG4s/iQ3Dfy2vBpQ/s320/ch1.jpg" width="256" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Color Teddy</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7Bqz8QJAJL0/TtajnWMTLQI/AAAAAAAAG40/MGFE7GPW4vI/s1600/sh1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7Bqz8QJAJL0/TtajnWMTLQI/AAAAAAAAG40/MGFE7GPW4vI/s320/sh1.jpg" width="256" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sepia Teddy</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6169312327675576736-2330926655625496226?l=sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Amber DiTulliohttps://profiles.google.com/110383382274245312911noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6169312327675576736.post-63075622292946841012011-11-30T13:10:00.001-06:002011-11-30T13:26:20.886-06:00"Mama, dere a dinosawa on dat boot."<br /><br />He hands me his toy and steps toward the display of Christmas books that stand, along with the toys and candy, in the middle of the aisle. &nbsp;Reaching out, he pulls <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0448456915/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=sanitsover-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=217145&amp;creative=399373&amp;creativeASIN=0448456915">Our First Snow, a Dinosaur Train book</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=sanitsover-20&amp;l=as2&amp;o=1&amp;a=0448456915&amp;camp=217145&amp;creative=399373" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />, from the cardboard shelf. &nbsp;He turns as though he's going to hand it to me, then changes his mind. &nbsp;Instead, he sits down on the floor in front of the display and opens the book.<br /><br />I push my cart a little closer to him. &nbsp;The seasonal aisle is quite full of paper and ribbons, toys and gifts, ornaments and lights. &nbsp;He is close enough to the small tower of books that I don't worry about him being in the way of others, but I position my cart to shield him none-the-less.<br /><br />He starts on the first page, telling the story as he perceives from the pictures on the page. &nbsp;After perusing the page and naming each dinosaur, he moves to the next page. &nbsp;The process starts again. &nbsp;I watch with a smile.<br /><br />An older woman ghosts by with her cart. &nbsp;I watch her face for a reaction and, when there is none, a part of me becomes indignant. &nbsp;<i>Don't you see my child there?,</i>&nbsp;I think. <i>You could at least smile to acknowledge how utterly adorable he is.</i>&nbsp;But of course I don't say it. &nbsp;She is, I'm sure, as focused on her search for Christmas supplies as I am on my adorable three year old.<br /><br />Soon, the final page has been closed and a brightly smiling face glances up at me. &nbsp;"Aw done, Mama!" &nbsp;He rises, returning the book to where he got it. &nbsp;At first, he's set it with the back cover out but before I have a chance to mention it, he turns it the right way, the pteranodon family smiling at passers-by once more.<br /><br />Back to my side he comes, his small hand reaching up for mine. &nbsp;"Otay, Mama. &nbsp;Less doe."<br /><br />Times like this, it's good to be the Mama.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6169312327675576736-6307562229294684101?l=sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Amber DiTulliohttps://profiles.google.com/110383382274245312911noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6169312327675576736.post-67149738445366364582011-11-28T19:20:00.001-06:002011-11-28T20:01:58.292-06:00Rich and I have two places that we regularly give money to. &nbsp;One is&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kickstarter.com/">Kickstarter</a>, a site where you can pledge money for projects you believe in. &nbsp;The person who is trying to get the project funded offers incentives for various levels of support, so you can choose to support whatever your wallet and your interest can afford. &nbsp;The other is&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kiva.org/">Kiva</a>, a site which offers micro-loans to people in poverty stricken areas of the world trying to make a go of their businesses. &nbsp;Much like with Kickstarter, you can choose what to businesses interest you and where you want your loan to go to. &nbsp;The recipient of the loan pays it back in small&nbsp;increments and you can choose to either take your money out or reinvest it in another business.<br /><br />Today, I found out about another opportunity to help, this time in my own community (or any other community of my choice). &nbsp;It's a site called&nbsp;<a href="http://www.donorschoose.org/">DonorsChoose.org</a>&nbsp;and through it, you can donate to schools in your community. &nbsp;Teachers apply to have their project listed, including a blurb about what they are trying to raise the money for and the amount of money they need. &nbsp;A staff member of DonorsChoose.org reviews the application and confirms the amount of money needed for the supplies they want to buy. &nbsp;Then the project is posted to the site, ready for people to bid. &nbsp;You can look for projects that interest you by school, by subject or by keyword. It gives you the chance to help a classroom full of kids in whichever way that works for you.<br /><br />We haven't donated yet (though we will be donating to one or both of&nbsp;<a href="http://www.donorschoose.org/donors/proposal.html?id=644200">the proposals at</a>&nbsp;<a href="http://www.donorschoose.org/donors/proposal.html?id=595132">Teddy's school</a>). &nbsp;It doesn't matter that neither project will directly benefit either of my boys. It WILL benefit their school, and that's what's important. &nbsp;So check it out. &nbsp;And if you're a teacher needing something for your classroom, consider putting your request through here. &nbsp;You never know who is out there in your community, just waiting to help you out.<br /><br />^{I am in no way affiliated with DonorsChoose.org and I am not getting anything from them for this post. &nbsp;I just think they're a really great service and I'd like to get the information out there for those who may want to participate in something like this.}<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6169312327675576736-6714973844536636458?l=sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Amber DiTulliohttps://profiles.google.com/110383382274245312911noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6169312327675576736.post-14229609890859125612011-11-28T11:59:00.000-06:002011-11-28T12:00:09.233-06:00In the hopes of getting back to this blog with some regularity, I'm doing the Weekly Writing Prompt from&nbsp;<a href="http://www.mamakatslosinit.com/writers-workshop-directions/">Mama Kat's Pretty Much World Famous Writing Prompts</a>&nbsp;at Mama's Losin' It! &nbsp;Each week, she gives those who wish to participate five prompts from which to write. &nbsp;She e-mails the prompts on Mondays to those who want them so we can get a head start. &nbsp;I've decided that I need a head start this week.<br /><br />The prompts she offered up this week are:<br /><blockquote class="tr_bq">1.) What did you go through in order to get out? “The best way out is always through” (Inspired by <a href="http://mamakatslosinit.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=c18960637349c119319b723fa&amp;id=9bfe9d8715&amp;e=4893554c2c" target="_blank">Shatterboxx and some dude named Robert Frost</a>)<br />2.) Five Things. List 5 things we don't know about you, 5 things you're knowledgeable about, 5 things you know nothing about, and 5 things you believe. (inspired by <a href="http://mamakatslosinit.us1.list-manage2.com/track/click?u=c18960637349c119319b723fa&amp;id=b34fd40732&amp;e=4893554c2c" target="_blank">LouLou’s Views</a>)<br />3.) The first of December is upon us! Describe an Advent Calendar or a special way you count down days until Christmas (past or present). (Inspired by <a href="http://mamakatslosinit.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=c18960637349c119319b723fa&amp;id=68ad52cea3&amp;e=4893554c2c" target="_blank">Classy Chaos</a>)<br />4. Kids say the darndest things...describe a time a child's honesty made you think. (Inspired by&nbsp;<a href="http://mamakatslosinit.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=c18960637349c119319b723fa&amp;id=44ddc55730&amp;e=4893554c2c" target="_blank">Ashley’s Closet</a>)<br />5.) Tell us the story of how your pet came to be a member of your family. (Inspired by<a href="http://mamakatslosinit.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=c18960637349c119319b723fa&amp;id=3f7edf75cc&amp;e=4893554c2c" target="_blank">Busy Day Blog</a>)</blockquote><br />Several of them have been grabbing my interest, but for this one, I've decided to go with the Five Things lists. &nbsp;I may come back later in the week and do the other posts. &nbsp;It'll depend on time.<br /><br />So... let's get started here. &nbsp;Five things that you don't know about me. &nbsp;This is a bit tough, since I'm pretty open about everything. &nbsp;But I'll give it a try anyway.<br /><br /><br /><ol><li>I've loved writing since I was a kid. &nbsp;I used to have reams of poems and stories everywhere. &nbsp;Most of them weren't very good. &nbsp;But I did like getting my thoughts out on paper.</li><li>There's a real&nbsp;dichotomy&nbsp;about me when there's a crisis. If no one else needs me, I'll break down pretty hard. &nbsp;But the minute someone else needs me, I'm able to put my own turmoil aside to be there for them.</li><li>I still have the teddy bear that my parents got for me before I was born. &nbsp;He's a bit worse for wear, but his amber eyes still glow brightly when I look at him.</li><li>I'm incredibly impulsive. &nbsp;I went to the first college that I visited (and it was the only one I applied to). I bought the first wedding dress I tried on. &nbsp;I often buy the first electronics I come across. &nbsp;I can't help it. &nbsp;</li><li>I wanted to sing at my own reception, but I couldn't make it happen. &nbsp;I did, however, get to do something special for my dad and my sister. &nbsp;He hadn't been able to make it up to NY for her wedding two years before mine, so he missed the father-daughter dance with her. &nbsp;After my own father-daughter dance, I invited them up to dance together. &nbsp;This was when I'd planned to sing. &nbsp;It was probably more beautiful without my song.</li></ol><div>Now 5 things about which I'm&nbsp;knowledgeable. Hrm.... Where to start?</div><div><br /></div><div><ol><li><i>Doctor Who</i>. &nbsp;I'm not the most knowledgeable. &nbsp;My husband leaves me in the dust. &nbsp;But I do know quite a bit about both the original run and the reboot. &nbsp;And if I don't know the answer, I usual know how to find out. (By asking Rich, usually.)</li><li>My husband. &nbsp;Ok, this may seem like a "well, DUH." &nbsp;We've been together for almost 10 years, after all, and were friends for a year before that. &nbsp;But I do know him really well, and he knows me. &nbsp;We'll often throw the same quote out at the same time, can speak with a look, and know just the right (and wrong) times to call one another. &nbsp;</li><li>My kids. Another, "well, DUH". &nbsp;But even without them having to tell me, I know when they need me to be silly or when I need to be comforting. I know (as long as I'm not anger-locked) how to get through to them when they're upset about something. &nbsp;And I know where they like their kisses.</li><li>Writing. &nbsp;I'm not editor quality, but I'm knowledgeable enough to make sentences that sound the way they should. &nbsp;To me, it's important not to sound like a teen on the internet.</li><li>My heart. &nbsp;It's taken me a long time to become knowledgeable about my heart and what it wants. &nbsp;It's taken a lot of mistakes and a lot of pain to get me here. &nbsp;But I've finally found the knowledge of what will make me happy and what will just leave me with heartache in the end</li></ol>Narrowing it down to five things in which I know nothing may be a bit tough. &nbsp;But here goes.</div><div><br /></div><div><ol><li>Mountain climbing. &nbsp;I wouldn't even know where to start. &nbsp;And honestly, it's not something I want to know anything about either.</li><li>What it's like to be a star. &nbsp;I've read autobiographies of stars and the like, but that's not quite the same as KNOWING.</li><li>How I'll react to the unthinkable. &nbsp;After all, it's unthinkable, so I haven't thought about how I'll react.</li><li>Keeping on top of things. &nbsp;This is one thing that I DO wish I knew how to do. &nbsp;I want to have a clean house, a successful blog, and a good life. &nbsp;But I haven't found that secret yet. &nbsp;Everything I've tried hasn't worked for me. &nbsp;So I keep searching.</li><li>Dancing. &nbsp;Seriously. &nbsp;If you saw me try to dance, you'd be convinced that I have two left feet.</li></ol>And finally, five things that I believe. &nbsp;This is, by far, the easiest one for me to write.</div><div><br /></div><div><ol><li>I believe that everything happens for a reason. &nbsp;Every pain that we endure, every mistake we make, is what makes us the people we are today. &nbsp;Yes, there are a LOT of things that&nbsp;embarrass&nbsp;me &nbsp;about my past. &nbsp;But they are the things that shaped who I am. &nbsp;And the mistakes I will make will in turn shape the person I'll become.</li><li>I believe that it is important to laugh a little every day. &nbsp;Laughter is a balm to the soul and it's what helps keep you young. &nbsp;It doesn't have to be a full belly laugh, but it does have to be enough for a chuckle.</li><li>I believe that who you are is more important than what you have. &nbsp;And by "who you are", I don't mean the labels that people give you. &nbsp;It's not about being someone's wife or someone's mother, being a multi-millionaire or a kid from the wrong side of the tracks. &nbsp;It's about who you are inside - what you believe, how you treat people, what your hopes and dreams are and what you are - and just as importantly, are not - willing to do to make them come true.</li><li>I believe that we don't know everything, whether it be scientifically or spiritually. &nbsp;We can't know what higher power is waiting for us until the day comes that we pass away. &nbsp;We have our beliefs, certainly. &nbsp;But we won't know for sure until that day. &nbsp;Everything in life is a hypothesis... because some day, everything could have an exception.</li><li>I believe that there is nothing as healing as the hug of a child or a mother's kiss on a boo-boo. &nbsp;There's something magic in those things that, even if the pain is still there, manages to set it back enough that you can deal with life around you again.</li></ol><div>So those are my five things for this week's writing prompt. &nbsp;Glad you stopped by!</div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6169312327675576736-1422960989085912561?l=sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Amber DiTulliohttps://profiles.google.com/110383382274245312911noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6169312327675576736.post-90828665528531364572011-11-14T12:19:00.000-06:002011-11-14T12:19:54.291-06:00Pete's been in pull-ups for... well, probably close to a year. &nbsp;When we first put him in pull-ups, he had seemed really excited about potty training, but that didn't last long at all. &nbsp;Occasionally, he'd want to be on the potty but more often than not, he would use his diaper.<br /><br />The last few weeks have been a bit more of a change, though. &nbsp;He's really seemed more interested in going on the potty. &nbsp;It was still more passive than active - going when Mommy, Daddy or Teddy had to use the bathroom rather than deciding he needed to go on his own. &nbsp;He didn't do anything when he sat on the potty, but at least he was acting like he wanted to try.<br /><br />Fast forward to today. &nbsp;I was sitting on the computer, going through my (tons of) e-mail when I heard him say, "Oh no!" and he started running. &nbsp;I followed him into the bathroom and he looked at me and said, "Mommy, I gotta go potty! Help!" &nbsp;He was going to use the big potty and pee standing up. &nbsp;So I helped him pull his little potty over to use as a step-stool, lifted the lid and tried to be encouraging. &nbsp;He got a bit frustrated because nothing was happening. "I can't goooooo, Mommy!" &nbsp;Then he decided to try going poo-poo instead. &nbsp;Of course, he was going to sit down without the seat down, so there was a quick interruption there when I helped him get settled on the potty.<br /><br />He still didn't do anything, but that doesn't worry me. &nbsp;The important this is that he decided - on his own - that he needed to go potty. &nbsp;I think he's getting tired of diapers. And I think he likes, in his words, "wipin' [his] butt". &nbsp;He actually took one of the flushable wipes to use, put it in the potty when he was done and then flushed it.<br /><br />He got his tootsie roll for sitting on the potty and when I handed it to him, he said, "Awesome!"<br /><br />Personally, I think HE's the awesome one.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6169312327675576736-9082866552853136457?l=sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Amber DiTulliohttps://profiles.google.com/110383382274245312911noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6169312327675576736.post-77076450019191077702011-11-09T10:14:00.003-06:002011-11-09T10:14:58.657-06:00I finally managed to get my pictures uploaded to my Picasa. &nbsp;So here are a few of them from recent weeks that I hope you enjoy.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-N7Un0f8TvSc/TqNcHizVigI/AAAAAAAAFsM/oinQEl6ZeOk/s1600/DSCN0606.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-N7Un0f8TvSc/TqNcHizVigI/AAAAAAAAFsM/oinQEl6ZeOk/s320/DSCN0606.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My favorite pic of Pete from his birthday weekend.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DR73btQPlw4/TqNYDTCQduI/AAAAAAAAGPU/-AhJina3aUs/s1600/DSCN0926.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DR73btQPlw4/TqNYDTCQduI/AAAAAAAAGPU/-AhJina3aUs/s320/DSCN0926.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Rick and the boys at Gentry Farms.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Mm_xqnQUNvw/TqNYHM74wXI/AAAAAAAAGPM/ynbeS4A2nco/s1600/DSCN0930.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Mm_xqnQUNvw/TqNYHM74wXI/AAAAAAAAGPM/ynbeS4A2nco/s320/DSCN0930.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The boys and our (meager) haul at Gentry Farms.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FtIUlyqA0N4/Trlz0qLg4NI/AAAAAAAAGI8/BsETrZHdvg8/s1600/DSCN0992.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FtIUlyqA0N4/Trlz0qLg4NI/AAAAAAAAGI8/BsETrZHdvg8/s320/DSCN0992.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My favorite pic of the boys from Halloween - Ash and Pikachu. &nbsp;Looks like Pete's saying "Pika pika?"</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Rx4jxYmQADA/TqNTcug-eEI/AAAAAAAAGhQ/6jFSeIi00r0/s1600/DSCN0666.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Rx4jxYmQADA/TqNTcug-eEI/AAAAAAAAGhQ/6jFSeIi00r0/s320/DSCN0666.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Teddy at the Celebration of Cultures in Nashville.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HyCIYqLjpyk/TqNaJQ-nGvI/AAAAAAAAGa4/vZ-HqISj5oE/s1600/DSCN0749.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HyCIYqLjpyk/TqNaJQ-nGvI/AAAAAAAAGa4/vZ-HqISj5oE/s320/DSCN0749.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Believe it or not, he actually LIKED having his face painted for this!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Cd-ZC0iudDA/TqNaKoSHc8I/AAAAAAAAGbA/MwhwQtuypLg/s1600/DSCN0751.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Cd-ZC0iudDA/TqNaKoSHc8I/AAAAAAAAGbA/MwhwQtuypLg/s320/DSCN0751.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I always have called him my little pumpkin!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6169312327675576736-7707645001919107770?l=sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Amber DiTulliohttps://profiles.google.com/110383382274245312911noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6169312327675576736.post-4955314618996467642011-11-06T10:03:00.000-06:002011-11-06T10:03:32.642-06:00Yep. &nbsp;Still not updating regularly. &nbsp;Bad Amber.<br /><br />I'm alive, which is good. &nbsp;I'm busy, which may be good. &nbsp;I'm still trying to organize my life and my thoughts to do the things that I want to do. &nbsp;Little bit at a time, I guess.<br /><br />I've actually been doing fairly good at the whole cleaning thing. &nbsp;I started last week and have been doing a deep cleaning of the apartment. &nbsp;It's taken 3 days to do the living room so at this rate, it may be the new year before I'm finished. &nbsp;But the important thing is that I'm getting it done. &nbsp;Thank the Gods for audio books, though. &nbsp;That's what's helping keep me going. &nbsp; &nbsp;This weekend has undone some of what I'd done last week, but it shouldn't take me as long to get that part to rights tomorrow before diving back in and continuing to work.<br /><br />I've started a series of swaps over on Swap-Bot that are helping me keep up with my book reviews. &nbsp;It's a weekly book review that we're sharing by e-mail. &nbsp;I do my reviews on <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/662017-amber">my Goodreads</a>, which gets posted to my&nbsp;<a href="http://viewsfromthereaderside.blogspot.com/">book review blog, Views from the Reader Side</a>&nbsp;and then I copy them into my e-mail. &nbsp;I've been doing a lot of reading and a lot of listening to audio books, so please feel free to come on over to one or both places and add it to your reading list.<br /><br />I got a bit of good news this week that I hadn't expected, mainly because I haven't been paying attention. &nbsp;We finally paid off our van! &nbsp;I suspected that the time was coming for it to be paid off, but the last few months have been insane so things haven't been on my radar as much as they should have been. &nbsp;But when Rich went to pay the latest amount, he was told that was the last payment we'd need to make. &nbsp;They'll be sending us the info for getting our title in our name. &nbsp;We finally have another asset! &nbsp;Woo-hoo!<br /><br />I've got so many pictures I need to upload and post here. &nbsp;I've got a ton of Halloween pictures. &nbsp;The boys went as Ash Ketchum from Pallet Town and Pikachu (both from Pokemon). &nbsp;I need to switch back over to my side of the computer (I've been on my husband's for awhile) so I can upload them more easily to my Picasa account. &nbsp;Look for them soon, though.<br /><br />Life is about to get even busier, thanks to job situations. &nbsp;Classes have started picking up for Rich at University of Phoenix - he's been teaching one on Thursday nights for the last three weeks and starts another on Tuesdays nights this week - and his tutoring has picked up as well. &nbsp;He's gone almost every night and does some tutoring on Saturdays as well. &nbsp;Luckily, he tutors at our local library on Saturday, so we go as a family to the library and while he's tutoring, the boys play outside on the library's front lawn while I watch them and read. &nbsp;It does mean, however, that I'm having to step-up on the cooking end of things. &nbsp;I hate cooking! &nbsp;So if anyone has ideas of easy things to make that the kids might enjoy, please pass them my way!<br /><br />For now, I'd better get my butt in gear. Rich and the boys are at church and I have a bit of shopping I want to do while they're gone. &nbsp;So I'd better get out of the house or they'll be back before I am! &nbsp;Hope everyone's having a great weekend! &nbsp;Happy November!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6169312327675576736-495531461899646764?l=sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Amber DiTulliohttps://profiles.google.com/110383382274245312911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6169312327675576736.post-68740532158346183022011-10-14T10:26:00.003-05:002011-10-14T10:26:47.419-05:00I keep having all these grand plans - things that I want to do and know that I can do. &nbsp;Plans to get organized and take care of not only what I <i>need</i>&nbsp;to do, but also what I <i>want</i>&nbsp;to do. &nbsp;Updating both this blog and my&nbsp;<a href="http://viewsfromthereaderside.blogspot.com/">Views from the Reader Side</a>&nbsp;book review blog. &nbsp;Keeping up to date on my game posts for both&nbsp;<a href="http://home.comcast.net/~arrefmak/#sb">Strange Bedfellows</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="http://www.skyseastone.net/jvstin/unjvst/008504.html">Return of the Titans</a>&nbsp;(both games GMed by the incomparable Paul of&nbsp;<a href="http://www.skyseastone.net/jvstin/">Blog, Jvstin Style</a>). Keep ahead of my swaps at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.swap-bot.com/user:PisceanMama">Swap-Bot</a>. Upload my photos to my&nbsp;<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/home">Picasa</a>. Play in season 8 of&nbsp;<a href="http://therealljidol.livejournal.com/">LJ Idol</a>. Be active on&nbsp;<a href="http://www.facebook.com/adpaz">Facebook</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/#!/adpaz">Twitter</a>. &nbsp;Keeping up with the blogs that I like to read. And that's just the online things. &nbsp;Going offline, there's wanting to keep up with my apartment (cleaning, laundry, going through boxes that are still waiting from our move over a year ago). Play with my boys. &nbsp;Start working out and eating better. Reading more. Catching up on TV shows.<br /><br />Too many things and a non-ability to organize are once again hampering me. &nbsp;But I've got to try to figure out how to make all these things happen. &nbsp;Because they are all important things to me. &nbsp;So... time to figure out how to organize my time better.<br /><br />If anyone has suggestions, please let me know. &nbsp;Because I'm up for any help that I can get!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6169312327675576736-6874053215834618302?l=sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Amber DiTulliohttps://profiles.google.com/110383382274245312911noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6169312327675576736.post-75237440735546680632011-09-11T18:08:00.000-05:002011-09-11T18:08:00.978-05:00I've finally started up my new blog for my book reviews.&nbsp;<a href="http://viewsfromthereaderside.blogspot.com/">Views from the Reader Side</a>&nbsp;is up and running, though there isn't much there yet. &nbsp;But give me time. &nbsp;I'm hoping, over the next couple of weeks, to make changes both there and here, making each their own place. &nbsp;For the time being, I'll be posting the reviews at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/662017-amber?ref=header">Goodreads</a>&nbsp;and have it cross-post to Views.<br /><br />So if you're interested in my book reviews, go over to my new site and add it to your favorite reader!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6169312327675576736-7523744073554668063?l=sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Amber DiTulliohttps://profiles.google.com/110383382274245312911noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6169312327675576736.post-23720465539470128642011-09-11T17:39:00.001-05:002011-09-11T17:39:55.946-05:00<br /> <a style='float: left; padding-right: 20px' href='http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7779059'><img alt='Side Jobs: Stories From the Dresden Files' border='0' src='http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1269115846m/7779059.jpg'/></a><br /> <a href='http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7779059'>Side Jobs: Stories From the Dresden Files</a> by <a href='http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/10746'>Jim Butcher</a><br/><br /> My rating: <a href='http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/206232170'>4 of 5 stars</a><br /> <br/><br/><br /> This is a compilation of a lot of Butcher's short stories in his Dresden world. I'd read a couple of them before - particularly "It's My Birthday, Too" and "Day Off". Those were a great re-read for me, as I'd enjoyed both stories before. The ones that were new to me were also fantastic. I've gotten pretty far behind in my Dresden reading (really gotta fix that when I slow down on some of the other reading that I've been doing), so I found a few surprises.<br /><br />He also included a new story, this one told from Murphy's point of view, taking a few hours after <i>Changes</i>. Not having read <i>Changes</i>, it was a big shocker for me. But the way it was written, and the view into Murphy's mind, was wonderful.<br /><br />If you're a fan of the Dresden files, you won't want to miss this one.<br /> <br/><br/><br /> <a href='http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/206232170'>View all my reviews</a><br /> <div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6169312327675576736-2372046553947012864?l=sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Amber DiTulliohttps://profiles.google.com/110383382274245312911noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6169312327675576736.post-27949005506949211542011-09-08T12:06:00.000-05:002011-09-08T12:06:37.898-05:00I read a lot of blogs on a daily basis. &nbsp;Or rather, I TRY to read a lot of blogs/websites on a daily basis. &nbsp;Things don't always happen the way I intend. &nbsp;But one of the things I am going to try to do regularly is point you toward some of the blog entries that have caught my attention each day. &nbsp;Since I usually read the blogs in the morning, some could be from the previous day. &nbsp;But good doesn't usually have a time limit, does it?<br /><br /><a href="http://westmetromommy.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">West Metro Mommy </a>wants to know how you feel about <a href="http://westmetromommy.blogspot.com/2011/09/blogging-and-question-of.html" target="_blank">bloggers making negative comments about businesses</a> on their blog. &nbsp;Pop over and give her your dime (inflation's brought it up from 2 cents, you know.)<br /><br />I love to read <a href="http://lifehacker.com/" target="_blank">Lifehacker</a>, because I always find interesting things to grab my attention. &nbsp;This article on<a href="http://lifehacker.com/5838117/use-a-5+calendar-setup-to-avoid-cluttered-and-confusing-schedules" target="_blank"> using a 5-calendar system</a> might be just right for my need to try to become more organized. &nbsp;Heck, I'm willing to try anything!<br /><br />They also mention <a href="http://lifehacker.com/5838284/use-heavy-cardboard-for-a-free-recyclable-office-chair-mat" target="_blank">using an old piece of heavy cardboard, such as one from a large appliance box, for your chair mat</a>. &nbsp;It's definitely a cheaper alternative to buying a floor mat specifically made for rolling chairs.<br /><br />The third one from Lifehacker today involves a tool that I may look into - <a href="http://lifehacker.com/5838353/pistashio-sorts-bookmarks-into-categories-and-reminds-you-to-visit-again-through-twitter-or-email" target="_blank">Pistash.io</a>. &nbsp;It is a bookmarking tool that allows you to sort your bookmarks into categories and set reminders so you don't forget that you wanted to go back to them. A lot of times, I'll find something on a blog or elsewhere that I want to return to later. &nbsp;I'll bookmark it and then... well, life will happen. &nbsp;Six months later, I'm looking through my bookmarks and find that the page I'd marked involved something that ended three months ago. &nbsp;This, or so I hope, should keep me from missing stuff that I want to check out again later.<br /><br /><a href="http://gizmodo.com/" target="_blank">Gizmodo</a> has an article about Pandora's new <a href="http://gizmodo.com/5838307/pandoras-new-workout-stations-will-pump-you-the-hell-up" target="_blank">Workout Channels</a>. They've got good things to say about the music that plays on these stations. &nbsp;Me, I think it's a great, free way to get me working out like I need to.<br /><br />They've got an awesome <a href="http://gizmodo.com/5838323/the-moon-like-you-have-never-seen-it-before" target="_blank">picture of the moon from it's north pole</a>. If you're a space-geek like me, you definitely want to check it out. &nbsp;Whenever I get tired of Green Arrow, I may have a new background for my computer.<br /><br />The geek in me is enjoying reading <a href="http://io9.com/" target="_blank">io9</a>'s article about the <a href="http://io9.com/5837450/where-would-superheroes-be-without-911" target="_blank">superhero boom post 9/11</a>. Being the big superhero fan that I am, I found it an interesting read. &nbsp;I honestly hadn't thought about superheroes becoming more popular post-911. &nbsp;They've always been a part of my life. &nbsp;But I can see both sides of the argument - the need for feeling more powerful after a powerless time and the the fact that technology has finally arrived to make the superheroes be able to do their cool things and have it not look cheesy. &nbsp;I do like the fact, however, that supers are a way to help our nation heal.<br /><br />Every weekday, <a href="http://www.themompledgeblog.com/" target="_blank">The Mom Pledge</a> blog features a different community member. &nbsp;If you haven't checked them out before, you should now. &nbsp;There's a bunch of great blogs in this fantastic community. &nbsp;<a href="http://www.themompledgeblog.com/2011/09/mungee-and-me.html" target="_blank">Today</a>, the blog features <a href="http://mungeeandme.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Mungee and Me</a>. I haven't checked out this blog yet, but I'm looking forward to doing so. A quick glance shows one really cute kid and a mom with a great sense of humor!<br /><br />Over at <a href="http://www.adventureswiththreegirls.com/" target="_blank">Adventures with Three Girls</a>, Jessica Anne has a great post about <a href="http://www.adventureswiththreegirls.com/2011/09/07/bras-101/" target="_blank">Bras 101</a>. &nbsp;She lists fun facts along with ways to make sure you have the right bra fit, as well as ways to make your bras last longer. &nbsp;As one who always has a hard time with bras (HATE underwires with a passion, yet have pretty large breasts), I'm going to keep a lot of these in mind.<br /><br /><a href="http://mamatrack.com/" target="_blank">Life on the Mama Track</a> struck a cord with me. &nbsp;After a frustrating couple of days with her little one, she got a <a href="http://mamatrack.com/2011/09/07/so-glad-im-here/" target="_blank">first hand reminder</a> of why she's glad to be right where she is. I had a similar moment yesterday. &nbsp;Pete had been throwing a fit because he did NOT want to sit in his car seat to go to the store before PDO. &nbsp;He wanted to sit in the front seat and tried to throw himself out of the straps to get to where he wanted to be. &nbsp;High pitched screams drove me insane. &nbsp;He'd calmed down a little after we got to the store, but I was still incredibly grateful for PDO. &nbsp;We got to the church about 30 minutes early, so I let him out of his car seat so he could grab the things that fell to the floor. &nbsp;All of a sudden, I felt two little arms wrap around my shoulders and his sweet voice saying, "You my bes' fend, Mommy." &nbsp;It makes it worth it.<br /><br />For my crocheting friends, my friend Tracie, of<a href="http://fibersbytracie.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"> Fibers by Tracie</a>, has <a href="http://fibersbytracie.blogspot.com/2011/09/lots-of-patterns.html" target="_blank">posted a bunch of pictures and links for some of her designs</a>. &nbsp;Check it out. &nbsp;Because she's got some really cute things over there!<br /><br />Finally,<a href="http://freeitunessongs.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"> Free iTunes</a> has mentioned a free video for download entitled <a href="http://freeitunessongs.blogspot.com/2011/09/video-911-day-that-changed-world.html" target="_blank">9/11: The Day that Changed the World</a>. &nbsp;I'm downloading it. &nbsp;Maybe I'm masochistic, but for me, it's necessary. I figured I wasn't the only one.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6169312327675576736-2794900550694921154?l=sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Amber DiTulliohttps://profiles.google.com/110383382274245312911noreply@blogger.comNashville, TN 37217, USA36.1026149 -86.656070936.051297399999996 -86.7350349 36.1539324 -86.5771069tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6169312327675576736.post-81511961883015392952011-09-08T10:43:00.000-05:002011-09-08T12:21:16.088-05:00It's strange what things stick in your mind. &nbsp;The inconsequential things. &nbsp;It's not that you forget the larger things, just that something small stays with you, something that you hang on to through everything else.<br /><br />For me, it was the tightness of my shoes.<br /><br />My day was supposed to be filled with training classes. &nbsp;I'd be sitting far longer than I would be standing, so when I got dressed that morning, I figured the slight tightness of my cute Mary Janes wouldn't be a problem. &nbsp;If worst came to worst, I could kick them off under my desk. &nbsp;And really, it made my black corduroy jumper look even better.<br /><br />The class didn't start until 9, but my train got me in at 7:30. &nbsp;I stopped by Burger King to grab some breakfast, then headed to main office building where the class was being held. &nbsp;Since I knew I'd have time to wait, I'd brought my cross-stitch along. &nbsp;I stitched while chatting with the instructor. &nbsp;He'd been my instructor for a few of the other Microsoft Office training classes, so it was a little catching up. &nbsp;Slowly, people started to trickle in, the classroom filling with people wanting to learn how to make the most out of Access. &nbsp;I put my stitching away and got ready to start working on the computer. As I looked around, I noticed that one of my co-workers wasn't there. She was supposed to take the class with me. &nbsp;It was odd that she wasn't there, but I figured that she may have called in. &nbsp;It wouldn't have been the first time.<br /><br />About 15 minutes into the class, she arrived, apologizing for her lateness. &nbsp;Traffic, she said, was horrible because of the plane that hit the tower. &nbsp;No one really realized what she'd said, or if they did, no one mentioned it. &nbsp;The instructor just kept going on with the class and we kept paying attention.<br /><br />At around 10, the class was briefly interrupted again. &nbsp;One of the girls was a new hire from Human Resources and one of her co-workers came in to speak to her. &nbsp;She took her from the room and five minutes later, my classmate came back in, grabbed her stuff and left. &nbsp;The instructor didn't say anything to her.<br /><br />15 minutes after that, it was time for our first break. &nbsp;And it was only then that we found out what was going on. &nbsp;Two planes had hit the Twin Towers. &nbsp;Since we were across the street from the Empire State Building, our whole building was being evacuated. &nbsp;At the time there were just rumors of what was happening, but terrorism was definitely on the table. &nbsp;The trains, subways and busses weren't running. &nbsp;We just needed to wait and see.<br /><br />Thankfully, my own office building was a few blocks away. &nbsp;My co-worker and I decided to see if they'd been evacuated. &nbsp;We hurried from the building out to the street. &nbsp;People were running everywhere. &nbsp;I was used to the hustle and bustle of New York, but this was different. &nbsp;There was a frantic quality that I wasn't used to seeing from the normally implacable New Yorkers. &nbsp;The payphones had queues of people, desperately trying to reach loved ones to be certain they were ok. &nbsp;I pulled out my cell as I walked, trying to get through to my boyfriend. &nbsp;He worked at JFK and I worried that something may have happened there as well. &nbsp;But trying to get through on cell phones was almost impossible - too many people were trying to do it.<br /><br />When I got back to my office, I had to show my ID before I was allowed upstairs. &nbsp;It didn't matter that the guard knew me. &nbsp;Protocol was being followed strictly that day. &nbsp;We were also told that if we left again, we wouldn't be allowed back in the building. &nbsp;The only reason we were allowed in at all now was because we hadn't been in the building to begin with.<br /><br />My floor was eerily subdued. &nbsp;Most of my co-workers were sitting the conference room, the television tuned to NY1. &nbsp;I stopped by my desk, finding a message from my boyfriend. &nbsp;He'd forgotten that I had training that day, so he called to see if I was watching what was going on outside. &nbsp;I tried calling him back, but couldn't reach him. &nbsp;I did, however, reach his mother. &nbsp;She assured me that he was alright.<br /><br />Little bit by little bit, information came in to us. &nbsp;It had been terrorists that had hijacked the planes and flown them into the Towers. &nbsp;And those two weren't the only planes taken over. &nbsp;Another was flown into the Pentagon, and a third went down in Pennsylvania. &nbsp;Everything inside of New York was still shut down as they tried to find out more. &nbsp;Vehicles weren't being allowed over the bridges, but pedestrians would be allowed to walk to the Boroughs. &nbsp;The streets were silent.<br /><br />Around noon, NY1 was reporting that they were going to start the trains soon, trying to get more people out of the city. &nbsp;Several friends and I decided to chance it. &nbsp;But once we get to Penn Station, it looked like nothing was going to be happening for awhile. &nbsp;My friends decided they were going to walk to Queens and I was welcome to come with them. &nbsp;I wanted to, but my shoes were starting to pinch. &nbsp;Many of the shops around Penn Station were open, but none of them had shoes that I could purchase. &nbsp;The closest I'd be able to find were slippers, and I knew they'd never make it.<br /><br />Between my lack of comfortable footwear and my asthma, I decided that I'd wait for the trains to start running again. &nbsp;The day was getting to be incredibly hot and I figured they couldn't have it be too much longer before the trains ran, could it?<br /><br />At noon, I started at the top of the steps near the 32nd Street entrance to Penn Station. &nbsp;The sun beat down and, for New York, it was quiet with just a small buzz of conversation. &nbsp;Over the next three hours, I managed to move forward until I was standing at the barriers they had erected. &nbsp;At one point, before I reached the front of the crowd, everyone went completely silent. &nbsp;We all heard the same thing - a plane flying overhead. &nbsp;With frightened eyes, we looked up, wondering if another attack was coming. &nbsp;It was a USAF jet, there to keep us safe. &nbsp;But our first thoughts were ones of fear.<br /><br />As I stood in the hot sun, my feet began to hurt more and more. &nbsp;I wanted, desperately, to take my shoes off. &nbsp;But I knew that if I did, I'd never get them back on. &nbsp;I just prayed that soon, soon they'd let us get on our trains and leave for Long Island. &nbsp;Though my pained feet did give me something to keep my mind away from worry and speculation. &nbsp;I had something else to focus on.<br /><br />So many things were happening that day, during the waiting that we needed to endure. &nbsp;And most of them were good. &nbsp;People that didn't know one another - that never saw each other again - were doing what they could. &nbsp;Someone handed me a cold bottle of water, just because he said it looked like I needed it. &nbsp;People were letting others closer to the barrier, under the small amount of shade, if they looked like they needed it. &nbsp;People were being courteous to one another, caring, hopeful and helpful.<br /><br />It was around 3:30 when they announced they'd start running the trains. &nbsp;Those of us heading on the Long Island Railroad needed to go to the 34th Street entrance. &nbsp;The stairs there went directly down to the LIRR level. &nbsp;Enemas, a large part of the crowd around the 32nd Street entrance headed over 2 blocks. &nbsp;At the bottom of the stairs were a few people with clipboards, letting people know what track their train would be leaving from. &nbsp;No train would leave until it was full, because they wanted as few trains running as possible. &nbsp;Mine, being one of the spur lines, was one of the last to come in. &nbsp;If it were just the stops on the spur, I don't know when we would have gotten out of there. &nbsp;But there were several large change-over stops along our route. &nbsp;I sat close to the window, gratefully having taken my shoes off at last to allow my feet a rest. &nbsp;I stared out the window, watching people rush to trains. &nbsp;The two seats next to me quickly filled up. And, finally, the train started to move about 30 minutes later.<br /><br />Along the way, I called my boyfriend, asking him to meet me at the station. &nbsp;I wasn't sure if I'd be able to walk home. &nbsp;He did and we went back to his house, silently watching the television to see what else was happening. &nbsp;I didn't really want to watch it, but like any tragedy, I couldn't look away. I needed to know more.<br /><br />I was one of the lucky New Yorkers that day. &nbsp;No one that I knew died. &nbsp;But almost everyone else I knew had lost someone, including my boyfriend. &nbsp;One of my friends arrived at her job at the Tower right as the plane hit. &nbsp;She was among the first to be evacuated and made it home safely.<br /><br />It took several days before I really saw the extent of the devastation. &nbsp;I didn't go in to work on Wednesday or Thursday, but on Friday... Friday, I had to because I needed to meet someone in New Jersey that afternoon for a ride to my sister's bachelorette party. And when I stepped off the train for the first time since Tuesday morning, I was assaulted with flyers. &nbsp;Over every free surface, flyers were taped, begging for information about loved ones. &nbsp;Faces in black and white smiled out at passesrby, being caught it a moment of happiness. The names and faces started to blur together for me. &nbsp;There were too many of them.<br /><br />On my walk to work, I passed <a href="http://www.fdnye16l7.com/index.html" target="_blank" title="the firestation">the fire station</a>&nbsp;two doors down from my office. &nbsp;A poster was propped on an easel with remembrances of all the firefighters they'd lost from that station. &nbsp;Included was a very special man, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mychal_Judge" target="_blank">Father. Mychal Judge</a>. &nbsp;He was a Franciscan Monk from the monastery across the street, as well as the chaplain. &nbsp;He was killed by falling debris while administering to the dying. &nbsp;There are many that consider this man a saint, not just for the work he did that day before he was killed, but for other things that happened throughout his life.<br /><br />Along with the poster, a forest of candles sat on the ground around the easel. &nbsp;Many had come to pay their respects to those lost. &nbsp;For months, I would cry as I walked past the station. &nbsp;Hell, I would cry the moment I got of the train, to be honest. &nbsp;Even though I hadn't lost anyone personally, every single innocent that was lost that day struck me deeply. &nbsp;I have a fair amount of empathy for those around me, and that makes times like the days after 9/11 harder for me.<br /><br />I moved away from New York on September 29, 2002. &nbsp;I was moving to Philadelphia to be with my fiancé. &nbsp;But I did have one last chance to say good-bye and thank you. &nbsp;On September 11, 2002, there were bells placed throughout the city. &nbsp;One was on our street, between the fire station and the monastery. &nbsp;One of the members of the fire department made a speech and we all had a moment of silence. &nbsp;Anyone that wanted to could ring the bell for those they'd lost. &nbsp;I rang the bell for all the lost, tears streaming down my face. &nbsp;Every one of them deserved to be remembered that day.<br /><br />The following year, I got married on September 13. &nbsp;Even though I wasn't originally thinking about it the day my husband and I planned our wedding, it became a way to bring happiness back to the time of year. &nbsp;I would never, ever forget what had happened that day - though, thankfully, time has softened many of the edges - but I can also find a reason to celebrate that time of year. &nbsp;Love, I hope, is a good way to remember those that we lost. &nbsp;And what better way than to celebrate a marriage?<br /><br /><br /><em>This was written for MamaKat's Pretty Much World Famous Writer's Workshop. &nbsp;It is written for the 4th prompt, 9/11 Memories. &nbsp;I debated writing for the third prompt, First Day of School Pics, Let's Have 'em, but posted those back on Teddy's first day of school. &nbsp;If you'd be interested in seeing them, please read <a href="http://sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com/2011/08/thankful-thursday-hes-big-boy-now.html" target="_blank" title="this post">this post</a>.</em><br /><br /><a href="http://www.mamakatslosinit.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="Mama’s Losin’ It" src="http://i913.photobucket.com/albums/ac331/mamakatslosinit/workshop-button-1.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6169312327675576736-8151196188301539295?l=sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Amber DiTulliohttps://profiles.google.com/110383382274245312911noreply@blogger.comNashville, TN 37217, USA36.1026149 -86.656070936.051297399999996 -86.7350349 36.1539324 -86.5771069tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6169312327675576736.post-54521546448511258122011-09-08T06:55:00.001-05:002011-09-08T06:55:01.134-05:00<p>Last week, I wrote about <a title="the rains in the area of my home town." href="http://sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com/2011/08/big-cities-arent-only-ones-getting-hit.html" target="_blank">the rains in the area of my home town.</a>&nbsp;A couple of the towns were badly flooded, complete evacuation. Well, this time it's <a title="it's hitting my home town of Downsville." href="http://www.wbng.com/news/local/Flooding-Forces-Residents-Out-of-Colchester-129412363.html" target="_blank">hitting my home town of Downsville.</a>&nbsp; Yeah, we're used to flooding there. &nbsp;In 2006, it was really bad - and this is looking to be the same, if not worse.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>My mom, step-father, sister, brother-in-law and the kids should be pretty safe (though my sister hasn't been able to make it home from her job 45 minutes away). &nbsp;They happen to live outside of town and on the mountain. &nbsp;But I have a lot of family that live directly in town, as well as a lot of friends that I'd grown up with. &nbsp;And they are the ones that I'm worried about.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>At the moment, there's only one way into and out of town. &nbsp;And if that floods, anyone left in town is screwed. &nbsp;It's going to be nearly impossible to get out after that.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>So those of you that pray. Those that send karma. Those that send well wishes. Please, do so. &nbsp;Because I worry about my family and friends. &nbsp;They've dealt with enough. &nbsp;They really don't need more piled on top of them.</p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6169312327675576736-5452154644851125812?l=sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Amber DiTulliohttps://profiles.google.com/110383382274245312911noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6169312327675576736.post-57404729691860386222011-09-07T13:31:00.000-05:002011-09-07T13:31:43.313-05:00Great intentions, right? &nbsp;I always have great intentions. &nbsp;I intend to keep up with the housecleaning every day. I intend to post on my blog every day. I intend to keep up with SparkPeople every day. &nbsp;I intend to work-out every day and work on swaps every day and play with my boys every day and and and.<br /><br />I know that I'm over committed. I need to work on that. I need to find a way to do the things I want to do without them being stressful. Because I really do enjoy the things that I do. <br /><br />I love to do things for swap-bot. &nbsp;It keeps my creativity flowing. &nbsp;The same goes for the two role-playing games I'm in. &nbsp;I've been trying, with swap-bot at least, to make sure I'm only signing up for swaps that I know I can keep up with, and most of them are e-swaps, which make it quite a bit easier. &nbsp;On the gaming front, it helps that I have a set schedule for them. &nbsp;Still, I've been missing too many posts. &nbsp;I owe two right now.<br /><br />I love to update my blog. &nbsp;I love to talk about the things that are going on in my life, to share great things with my readers, to reach out to other bloggers and get to know more about more people. &nbsp;I like having the schedule of things, even if I don't get to them as regularly as I'd like.<br /><br />I love having a clean house. &nbsp;However, I hate what I need to do to get it that way. &nbsp;And I hate the way I get when I've spent 3 hours working on cleaning something, only to have the boys come in and destroy it within 10 minutes. &nbsp;It makes me wonder why I do it. &nbsp;And I've tried to get them to clean up after themselves - taking away their&nbsp;privileges when they refuse, or bribing them with more good things when they do what they're supposed to. &nbsp;But they don't like to listen to me. &nbsp;Probably because I'm Mommy.<br /><br />The same goes with exercising. &nbsp;I love having a healthy body. &nbsp;But trying to get into the flow of exercise just doesn't work as well as I'd like it to most days. &nbsp;I'd been doing really good with walking or pilates every day... until I told people about it. &nbsp;Then my commitment went out the window.<br /><br />Why do I do this, I wonder? &nbsp;Why do I set myself up to fail with things? &nbsp;Ok, maybe I'm not meaning to, but it is what happens too often. &nbsp;I keep up with something until I think it's become habit, I tell people about it as a "hey, I'm doing great" and BAM! &nbsp;The habit goes away. &nbsp;I'm trying to find what will work for me.<br /><br />I've been trying to make a schedule every day. &nbsp;But it's so easy for my schedule to get blown out of the water because of the kids and things they need to do, or something coming up at home unexpectedly. &nbsp;So maybe the schedule thing won't work as well as I'd like it to.<br /><br />All I know is that I need to make some changes. &nbsp;I'm thinking of making some changes to my blog - mainly pulling my book reviews out into a blog of their own. &nbsp;Because I feel like I'm fighting back and forth with what to write. &nbsp;If I know that my books have a separate place of their own, it might make it a bit easier. &nbsp;I dunno.<br /><br />I need to change. &nbsp;I need to figure out what I need to change. &nbsp;Maybe I need a vacation. &nbsp;Maybe I need to learn Zen. &nbsp;Maybe I need an epiphany. &nbsp;Who knows. &nbsp;But something's got to give before I do.<br /><br /><br /><i>I'm writing this entry today for <a href="http://www.thingsicantsay.com/search/label/pour%20your%20heart%20out">Pour Your Heart Out</a>, the weekly feature over at <a href="http://www.thingsicantsay.com/">Things I Can't Say</a>.</i><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://thingsicantsay-shell.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac246/shellthings/pouryourheartout.jpg" /></a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6169312327675576736-5740472969186038622?l=sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Amber DiTulliohttps://profiles.google.com/110383382274245312911noreply@blogger.com0Nashville, TN 37217, USA36.1026149 -86.656070936.051297399999996 -86.7350349 36.1539324 -86.5771069tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6169312327675576736.post-33024334051318680422011-09-07T13:12:00.000-05:002011-09-07T13:12:24.085-05:00No, not me. &nbsp;I haven't teamed up with anyone that wants me to do giveaways here. &nbsp;(Though if any of my readers have something they think would be great to giveaway on my blog - a book you'd like me to read, a product you'd like me to try - just drop me a line!)<br /><br />But there are a lot of great giveaways out there. &nbsp;Come check out some of the ones that I've put my name in the hat for.<br /><br />On <a href="http://camicheckettsbooks.blogspot.com/">Cami's Books</a>, she's giving away a copy of<i> </i><a href="http://camicheckettsbooks.blogspot.com/2011/08/book-giveaway-bloodborne-by-gregg-luke.html"><i>Bloodbourne</i> by Gregg Luke</a>. &nbsp;You need to be subscribed to her blog and comment to enter, but there are extra entries for posting to Facebook or Twitter, as well as for putting a link to the giveaway in your blog or on your sidebar. &nbsp;The giveaway ends <b>September 12th</b>.<br /><br />At <a href="http://www.ourordinarylife.com/">Our Ordinary Life</a>, she's giving away a <a href="http://www.ourordinarylife.com/2011/09/back-to-school-dxg-luxe-collection-camcorder-giveaway">DXG Luxe Collection &nbsp;Camcorder</a>. &nbsp;The main way to enter is to comment and tell her which other camera from DXG would fit your lifestyle, as well as the way you use cameras and taking video. &nbsp;But there are also a ton of other ways to get extra entries. &nbsp;You can become a fan of DXG on Facebook, Blog about it on your own blog (gets you five entries), grab her banner for another entry, subscribe to her blog (which is a fantastic blog that I love to read!), tweet and follow her on twitter, follow her through Google Friend Connect and follow her on Facebook, tweet daily for an extra giveaway, Like Our Ordinary Life on Facebook, use the tweet button to tweet the post, list the giveaway on a contest site and comment on a non-giveaway post. &nbsp;Yep, she's got a lot of ways to get a lot of extra entries! &nbsp;All the links you'll need are in the post, so follow my link to the post above and check it out! &nbsp;The giveaway ends <b>September 30th</b>.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.midnightmommy.com/">Midnight Mommy</a>&nbsp;is giving away a&nbsp;<a href="http://www.midnightmommy.com/2011/09/giveaway-double-gusset-pocket-cloth.html">Double Gusset Pocket Cloth Diaper</a>&nbsp;in thanks for her 450 followers. &nbsp;There are lots of ways to enter - following her, tweeting about the giveaway, grabbing her button. &nbsp;Tons of them that can give you a chance for this win! &nbsp;I won't be joining this one, since we're getting closer every day to getting Pete out of diapers. &nbsp;But I know I have a lot of green parents that this would appeal to that read my blog. &nbsp;So go check it out! &nbsp;The giveaway ends <b>October 1st</b>.<br /><br /><a href="http://bmdimension.blogspot.com/">Book &amp; Movie Dimension</a>&nbsp;is giving away a copy of <a href="http://bmdimension.blogspot.com/2011/09/interview-giveaway-with-rj-gonzales.html">RJ Gonzales' book, <i>Mundahlia</i></a>, the first book in <i>The Mundahlian Era</i>&nbsp;series.&nbsp;To enter, follow the blog through GFC and comment with your GFC name. &nbsp;You can get extra entries by following RJ Gonzales on Facebook, by following his blog or by adding the button for either Book &amp; Movie Dimensions or RJ Gonzales to your blog. &nbsp;I've done all of them, I think. &nbsp;Being the reader that I am, how could I do less? &nbsp;The giveaway ends <b>Septmeber 16th.</b><br /><b><br /></b><br />I'm sure there are a lot of other great giveaways around. &nbsp;If you have one that you'd like me to add for my next Giveaway post, please drop me a line pointing toward it. &nbsp;I'm going to try to do this kind of a post once or twice a week. &nbsp;Because, even if it may lessen my chances to win a great prize, I can't keep these goodies to myself!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6169312327675576736-3302433405131868042?l=sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Amber DiTulliohttps://profiles.google.com/110383382274245312911noreply@blogger.com0Nashville, TN 37217, USA36.1026149 -86.656070936.051297399999996 -86.7350349 36.1539324 -86.5771069tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6169312327675576736.post-53035586465262759652011-08-28T19:26:00.000-05:002011-08-28T19:26:54.375-05:00There hasn't been a lot of info on this on the news. &nbsp;Little bits and pieces on a few local news stations, about a minute on the Weather channel (from what I've been told - I don't have cable). &nbsp;But there are towns in Delaware County, NY that have been devastated by Hurricane Irene. &nbsp;I don't care what her strength was when she hit. &nbsp;The devastation that she left is just unbelievable.<br /><br />In&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wbng.com/news/gallery/Hurricane-Irene-Fleischmanns-Evacuation-128558923.html">Fleishmanns</a>, there is very little left. &nbsp;The town needed to be evacuated. &nbsp;Water continues to rise higher. &nbsp;The national guard sent in a helicopter to rescue people stranded on their roofs.<br /><br />In Margaretville, the streets have become a river (see the video below). &nbsp;Andrew Cuomo, the governor of New York, <a href="http://www.wbng.com/news/gallery/Cuomo-Visits-Delaware-County-128557758.html">traveled to Margaretville</a> to survey the damage. <br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="345" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/tlLPMGpfRRs" width="560"></iframe><br /><br /><br />And in Downsville, NY, they are <a href="http://www.nyalert.gov/Public/News/AlertView.aspx?notID=3468548&amp;refer=HOME&amp;source=WEB&amp;messageID=AghxO4T6A&amp;">preparing for the Reservoir to flood.</a>&nbsp; Between the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pepacton_Reservoir">Pepacton Reservoir</a> and the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_Branch_Delaware_River">East Branch of the Delaware River</a>, they're expecting flooding to go a fair amount into town. (If you take a look at the map below, you should be able to see where the flooding is expected to get to.)<br /><br /><iframe frameborder="0" height="350" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&amp;source=embed&amp;hl=en&amp;geocode=&amp;q=duke's,+downsville,+ny&amp;aq=&amp;sll=36.084455,-86.645151&amp;sspn=0.014809,0.033023&amp;vpsrc=6&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;hq=duke's,&amp;hnear=Downsville,+Delaware,+New+York&amp;t=h&amp;ll=42.064826,-75.005239&amp;spn=0.006603,0.016512&amp;layer=c&amp;cbll=42.078286,-74.993309&amp;panoid=AxUlAG8LNzu59RjsDFiNCg&amp;cbp=11,243.12,,0,0&amp;output=svembed" width="425"></iframe><br /><small><a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&amp;source=embed&amp;hl=en&amp;geocode=&amp;q=duke's,+downsville,+ny&amp;aq=&amp;sll=36.084455,-86.645151&amp;sspn=0.014809,0.033023&amp;vpsrc=6&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;hq=duke's,&amp;hnear=Downsville,+Delaware,+New+York&amp;t=h&amp;ll=42.064826,-75.005239&amp;spn=0.006603,0.016512&amp;layer=c&amp;cbll=42.078286,-74.993309&amp;panoid=AxUlAG8LNzu59RjsDFiNCg&amp;cbp=11,243.12,,0,0" style="color: blue; text-align: left;">View Larger Map</a></small><br /><br />I haven't heard of any lives lost, but I can't get a lot of reliable information. &nbsp;Even my mother, who lives in Downsville, has only heard a little here and a little there from family members that have called her. &nbsp;I'm not too worried about her and my step-father or my sister and her family, because they live up in the mountain. &nbsp;It would be a flood of epic proportions to endanger them and their property. &nbsp;But I have family and friends that live in Downsville proper. &nbsp;Aunts, uncles, cousins, my grandmother, people I went to school with there. &nbsp;And I don't want them to have to go through this again. (They've been hit with several floods over the last several years.)<br /><br />I know that this small area of New York isn't the only one getting hit. &nbsp;Believe me, I know. &nbsp;I've got family and friends throughout the Northeast. &nbsp;But Downsville will always be my hometown. &nbsp;It's where I lived from 2 until 15. &nbsp;It's where I learned life's lessons. &nbsp;By extension, Margaretville, Fleishmanns,&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wbng.com/news/local/Hurricane-Irene-Deposit-128566128.html">Deposit</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="http://www.watershedpost.com/2011/middletown-irene-update">Arkville</a>&nbsp;are places also close to my heart. &nbsp;And I worry about those that have been displaced, as well as those who may still be displaced.<br /><br />When your prayers/good thoughts/whatever start winging their way to your chosen destination, please add an extra one for those in Delaware County. &nbsp;You may never have heard of these towns before this blog post, but they are in need of your prayers.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6169312327675576736-5303558646526275965?l=sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Amber DiTulliohttps://profiles.google.com/110383382274245312911noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6169312327675576736.post-86917352113891993852011-08-25T13:14:00.000-05:002011-08-25T13:14:00.441-05:00As I sit here, futzing around online, I hear Pete playing quietly behind me. &nbsp;He has a Batman figure and a robot. &nbsp;His conversation goes like this:<br /><br />Deep, gravely voice: You wanna baddle?<br />Normal voice: No, Oh-ot. I wanna seep.<br />Deep, gravely voice: No, you wanna baddle! You no go to bed. &nbsp;You stay and baddle!<br /><br />I love these conversations he has with himself while he plays. &nbsp;His imagination seems to be filling in all the blanks, and he needs to hear it. &nbsp;It's not only with his action figures that he supplies everyone's words, either. &nbsp;When he pretends to call someone, he provides both sides of the conversation. &nbsp;He'll pick up his toy phone and this is what I'll hear:<br /><br />Normal voice: Hi Daddy!<br />Deeper voice: Hi Peter. &nbsp;What you doin'?<br />Normal voice: I play with my oh-ot an Batman.<br />Deeper voice: Otay. Can I talk to Mommy?<br />Normal voice: Otay. &nbsp;Here, Mommy. Daddy want to talk to you!<br /><br />So I'll take the phone and have a "conversation" with my husband. &nbsp;Because it amuses him.<br /><br />Today, as we were walking through Wal-Mart, Peter decided he wanted to ride in the cart. &nbsp;No problem for me, because it means I'm not having to chase him everywhere. &nbsp;Plus, he's not that heavy, so picking him up and putting him in the car isn't a problem. &nbsp;But as we're going through the aisles, Peter was "feeding" me various things. &nbsp;I believe I had ice cream, cookies, coffee (which "Mommy dink coffee, but Peter no dink coffee and Teddy no dink coffee and Batman no dink coffee). &nbsp;When I told him that I was too full to eat any more and that I'd explode, he replied, "I gonna esplode too. Boom!"<br /><br />Right now, Batman is trying to fly but he can't. &nbsp;And Oh-ot is holding out his hand to help keep him up. &nbsp;"I not awight. &nbsp;Weed a book. A bue book." &nbsp;He keeps me smiling when he's like this.<br /><br />I also love the words that he has chosen for some things. &nbsp;It's not always easy for people that aren't around him daily to understand what he says - he's not quite three, after all, and his speech isn't developed to the point of everything being perfectly intelligible. And honestly, there are many times when I can't quite figure out what words he's using or what he wants. &nbsp;But he's got some standards that I know immediately.<br /><br />Oh-ot - Robot<br />P-pop - Lollipop<br />Ploes - His three pillows: Mommy Plo, Daddy Plo and Baby Plo<br />Gee Ae-o - Green Arrow<br />Eye-or - Cyborg (No, my son isn't getting his training in the classics much)<br />Hi Heem - Ice cream<br />Tocklet Mewk - Chocolate Milk<br />Punbod - Spongebob<br />Mee Mou - Mickey Mouse<br />Fackah - Cracker<br /><br />The list could probably go on forever.<br /><br />I want to remember these times. Because I know there will come a time when he stops having conversations when himself and starts playing video games with his brother (though that still happens even now). &nbsp;There will be a time when he'll be perfectly understood and his Plos will be no more, but his pillows will be there. &nbsp;Where he plays with robots and eats ice cream, when he gets a lollipop as a treat rather than a p-pop. &nbsp;He's going to grow up and leave these toddler things behind him. &nbsp;And there's a part of me that doesn't want it, because I treasure this time. &nbsp;I don't remember as much from Teddy at this age as I would have thought I would. &nbsp;And that saddens me.<br /><br />I hope I can hold on a few of these memories with Pete. &nbsp;I'm hoping that by writing it, it will make it easier to stick in my brain. Because the time will pass too quickly for my liking.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6169312327675576736-8691735211389199385?l=sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Amber DiTulliohttps://profiles.google.com/110383382274245312911noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6169312327675576736.post-13165133838696228332011-08-21T20:00:00.000-05:002011-08-21T20:00:43.239-05:00<a href="http://sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com/2011/07/30-day-book-challenge-challenge.html">Day 01 – The best book you read this year</a><br /><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com/2011/08/30-day-book-challenge-day-2.html">Day 02 – A book that you’ve read more than 3 times</a></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com/2011/08/30-day-book-challenge-day-3.html">Day 03 – Your favorite series</a></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com/2011/08/30-day-book-challenge-day-4.html">Day 04 – Favorite book of your favorite series</a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com/2011/08/30-day-book-challenge-day-5.html">Day 05 – A book that makes you happy</a></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com/2011/08/day-01-best-book-you-read-this-year-day.html">Day 06 – A book that makes you sad</a></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com/2011/08/30-day-book-challenge-day-7.html">Day 07 – Most underrated book</a></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com/2011/08/30-day-book-challenge-day-8.html">Day 08 – Most overrated book</a><br /><a href="http://sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com/2011/08/30-day-book-challenge-day-8_10.html">Day 09 – A book you thought you wouldn’t like but ended up loving</a></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com/2011/08/30-day-book-challenge-day-10.html">Day 10 – Favorite classic book</a></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com/2011/08/30-day-book-challenge-day-11.html">Day 11 – A book you hated</a></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com/2011/08/30-day-book-challenge-day-12.html">Day 12 – A book you used to love but don’t anymore</a><br /><a href="http://sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com/2011/08/30-day-book-challenge-day-13.html">Day 13 – Your favorite writer</a><br />Day 14 – Book from your favorite writer<br /><br /><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&amp;bc1=000000&amp;IS2=1&amp;bg1=FFFFFF&amp;fc1=000000&amp;lc1=0000FF&amp;t=sanitsover-20&amp;o=1&amp;p=8&amp;l=as4&amp;m=amazon&amp;f=ifr&amp;ref=ss_til&amp;asins=1563891387" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe><br /><br />This was a tough choice. &nbsp;I love everything I've ever read by Neil Gaiman. &nbsp;They are all brilliant. &nbsp;And trying to choose a favorite... well, it's like trying to decide my favorite child or favorite niece or nephew. &nbsp;It's difficult. &nbsp;But, I did finally come up with a choice, and that is <i>Brief Lives</i>. &nbsp;<i>Sandman</i>&nbsp;is just barely my favorite of all the things he's written, and of all the stories, <i>Brief Lives</i>&nbsp;does come in first. &nbsp;Because it's Del's story, and you get to see so much strength from her where you weren't expecting it. &nbsp;It's the beginning of the end for Dream and it's the first real chance we have to see Destruction. &nbsp;It's a&nbsp;pivotal point in the whole series. &nbsp;And it's just brilliant.<br /><br /></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 15 – Favorite male character</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 16 – Favorite female character</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 17 – Favorite quote</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 18: First “chapter book” you can remember reading as a child</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 19 – Favorite book turned into a movie</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 20 - Book that makes you laugh out loud</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 21 – Favorite book from your childhood</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 22 - Book you’re currently reading</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 23 – Your guilty pleasure</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 24 – A book that you wish more people would’ve read</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 25 - Favorite book you read in school</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 26 – A book that changed your opinion about something</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 27 – The most surprising plot twist or ending</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 28 – Favorite title</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 29 – A book everyone hated but you liked</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 30 - Favorite book</div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6169312327675576736-1316513383869622833?l=sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Amber DiTulliohttps://profiles.google.com/110383382274245312911noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6169312327675576736.post-6256297426723211682011-08-21T19:46:00.000-05:002011-08-21T19:46:14.029-05:00Today's&nbsp;<a href="http://sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com/2011/03/starting-another-blog-challenge.html">List Challenge</a>&nbsp;entry is one that's taking some thinking. &nbsp;It is<br /><br /><b><u>Favorite Gifts You've Ever&nbsp;Received</u></b><br /><b><u><br /></u></b><br /><br /><ul><li>A gold and aquamarine ankle bracelet from Rich</li> <li>A round sapphire pendant that Rich got me on our honeymoon</li> <li>A small handpainted box with Mom on it - Teddy's first mother's day gift to me</li> <li>A Piscean-shaped wooden puzzle box from my friend Lynn</li> <li>The MP3 player that Rich got me for Christmas this past year</li> <li>A piece of artwork that I've put above our couch, which came from a friend in Philly for my 30th birthday</li> <li>A glass fronted shelving unit that I got from my friends Cristi &amp; Patrick</li> <li>Having my friend Cristi flown in for my 29th birthday</li> </ul><div><br /></div><div>I'm sure there are more, but these are the ones that are coming to mind right now.</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6169312327675576736-625629742672321168?l=sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Amber DiTulliohttps://profiles.google.com/110383382274245312911noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6169312327675576736.post-67156264714956574552011-08-20T20:45:00.000-05:002011-08-20T20:45:48.071-05:00<a href="http://sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com/2011/07/30-day-book-challenge-challenge.html">Day 01 – The best book you read this year</a><br /><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com/2011/08/30-day-book-challenge-day-2.html">Day 02 – A book that you’ve read more than 3 times</a></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com/2011/08/30-day-book-challenge-day-3.html">Day 03 – Your favorite series</a></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com/2011/08/30-day-book-challenge-day-4.html">Day 04 – Favorite book of your favorite series</a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com/2011/08/30-day-book-challenge-day-5.html">Day 05 – A book that makes you happy</a></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com/2011/08/day-01-best-book-you-read-this-year-day.html">Day 06 – A book that makes you sad</a></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com/2011/08/30-day-book-challenge-day-7.html">Day 07 – Most underrated book</a></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com/2011/08/30-day-book-challenge-day-8.html">Day 08 – Most overrated book</a><br /><a href="http://sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com/2011/08/30-day-book-challenge-day-8_10.html">Day 09 – A book you thought you wouldn’t like but ended up loving</a></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com/2011/08/30-day-book-challenge-day-10.html">Day 10 – Favorite classic book</a></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com/2011/08/30-day-book-challenge-day-11.html">Day 11 – A book you hated</a></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com/2011/08/30-day-book-challenge-day-12.html">Day 12 – A book you used to love but don’t anymore</a><br />Day 13 – Your favorite writer<br /><br />This one is a tough call. &nbsp;But I'll have to say that it's Neil Gaiman. &nbsp;As much as I love Kelley Armstrong and Kay Hooper, Richelle Mead and Peter David, there's no one quite like <a href="http://www.amazon.com/s?ie=UTF8&amp;redirect=true&amp;ref_=sr_tc_2_0&amp;keywords=Neil%20Gaiman&amp;field-contributor_id=B000AQ01G2&amp;qid=1313890490&amp;sr=8-2-ent&amp;rh=i%3Astripbooks%2Ck%3ANeil%20Gaiman#?_encoding=UTF8&amp;tag=sanitsover-20&amp;linkCode=ur2&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=390957">Neil Gaiman</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=sanitsover-20&amp;l=ur2&amp;o=1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />. &nbsp;It seems like he can write anything. <i>&nbsp;</i>Graphic novels (<i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/s?ie=UTF8&amp;x=0&amp;ref_=nb_sb_noss&amp;y=0&amp;field-keywords=neil%20gaiman&amp;url=search-alias%3Daps#?url=search-alias=aps?_encoding=UTF8&amp;tag=sanitsover-20&amp;linkCode=ur2&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=390957">The Sandman</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=sanitsover-20&amp;l=ur2&amp;o=1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></i>&nbsp;series, <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0785141340/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=sanitsover-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=217145&amp;creative=399369&amp;creativeASIN=0785141340">Marvel 1602</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=&amp;l=as2&amp;o=1&amp;a=0785141340&amp;camp=217145&amp;creative=399369" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></i>&nbsp;and <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0785121773/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=sanitsover-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=217145&amp;creative=399369&amp;creativeASIN=0785121773">Eternals</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=&amp;l=as2&amp;o=1&amp;a=0785121773&amp;camp=217145&amp;creative=399369" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></i>, to name a few), children's books (<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0061960306/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=sanitsover-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=217145&amp;creative=399369&amp;creativeASIN=0061960306"><i>Instructions</i></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=&amp;l=as2&amp;o=1&amp;a=0061960306&amp;camp=217145&amp;creative=399369" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />, <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0060587032/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=sanitsover-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=217145&amp;creative=399369&amp;creativeASIN=0060587032">The Day I Swapped My Dad for Two Goldfish</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=&amp;l=as2&amp;o=1&amp;a=0060587032&amp;camp=217145&amp;creative=399369" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></i> and <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0060838108/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=sanitsover-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=217145&amp;creative=399369&amp;creativeASIN=0060838108">Blueberry Girl</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=&amp;l=as2&amp;o=1&amp;a=0060838108&amp;camp=217145&amp;creative=399369" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></i>&nbsp;being among my favorite), darker tales for older children (<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004RPKUTU/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=sanitsover-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=217145&amp;creative=399373&amp;creativeASIN=B004RPKUTU"><i>Coraline</i></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=&amp;l=as2&amp;o=1&amp;a=B004RPKUTU&amp;camp=217145&amp;creative=399373" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /> and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0060530944/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=sanitsover-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=217145&amp;creative=399369&amp;creativeASIN=0060530944"><i>The Graveyard Boo</i>k</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=&amp;l=as2&amp;o=1&amp;a=0060530944&amp;camp=217145&amp;creative=399369" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />&nbsp;are the ones I've loved best) and even books for adults (<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0060558121/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=sanitsover-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=217145&amp;creative=399369&amp;creativeASIN=0060558121"><i>American Gods</i></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=&amp;l=as2&amp;o=1&amp;a=0060558121&amp;camp=217145&amp;creative=399369" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /> and it's sequel <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0060515198/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=sanitsover-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=217145&amp;creative=399369&amp;creativeASIN=0060515198"><i>Anansi Boys</i></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=&amp;l=as2&amp;o=1&amp;a=0060515198&amp;camp=217145&amp;creative=399369" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /> being some of the best works of fiction ever). &nbsp;I haven't seen or read anything from him that hasn't been complete brilliance. &nbsp;(His episode&nbsp;<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Doctor's_Wife_(Doctor_Who)">"The Doctor's Wife"</a>&nbsp;for <i>Doctor Who </i>was&nbsp;phenomenal. ) &nbsp;Seriously, I can't say enough about Neil Gaiman. &nbsp;Check him out if you haven't before.<br /><br />Day 14 – Book from your favorite writer</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 15 – Favorite male character</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 16 – Favorite female character</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 17 – Favorite quote</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 18: First “chapter book” you can remember reading as a child</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 19 – Favorite book turned into a movie</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 20 - Book that makes you laugh out loud</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 21 – Favorite book from your childhood</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 22 - Book you’re currently reading</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 23 – Your guilty pleasure</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 24 – A book that you wish more people would’ve read</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 25 - Favorite book you read in school</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 26 – A book that changed your opinion about something</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 27 – The most surprising plot twist or ending</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 28 – Favorite title</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 29 – A book everyone hated but you liked</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 30 - Favorite book</div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6169312327675576736-6715626471495657455?l=sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Amber DiTulliohttps://profiles.google.com/110383382274245312911noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6169312327675576736.post-3243888236110597212011-08-20T20:28:00.000-05:002011-08-20T20:28:10.413-05:00In trying to jump back on the Blogging wagon, I'm starting with the next entry for&nbsp;<a href="http://sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com/2011/03/starting-another-blog-challenge.html">The List Challenge</a>. &nbsp;The 17th Challenge is<br /><br /><b><u>Everything You Would Do If Money Were No Object</u></b><br /><b><u><br /></u></b><br /><br /><ul><li>Travel various places in the world like</li> <ul><li>Ireland</li> <li>Scotland</li> <li>England</li> <li>Wales</li> <li>The Netherlands</li> <li>Poland</li> <li>Italy</li> <li>Japan</li> <li>Australia</li> <li>New Zealand</li> <li>Canada</li> <li>Montana</li> <li>Las Vegas</li> <li>Lake Tahoe</li> <li>Minneapolis</li> <li>Philadelphia</li> <li>Washington DC</li> <li>Atlanta</li> <li>Key West</li> </ul><li>Go to <a href="http://www.dragoncon.org/">Dragon-Con</a></li> <li>Take a cruise</li> <li>Go to my 20th HS Reunion, including the reunion cruise</li> <li>Buy a house. This house will have:</li> <ul><li>4 bedrooms</li> <li>A large library</li> <li>A finished basement that can be split - one half for the kids to play in, the other half as a gaming room</li> <li>A large kitchen where I can bake without feeling crowded</li> <li>An enclosed pool so I can swim in the winter</li> <li>A large yard where I can put a play set for the boys to play on</li> <li>A fireplace</li> </ul><li>Buy a new car</li> <li>Pay off all my debts</li> <li>Buy a kick-ass gaming machine</li> <li>Start a college fund for both boys</li> <li>Go back to college myself and get my degree</li> <li>Attend a lot of gaming conventions that I haven't been to in far too long</li> <li>Bring all my friends here for a visit... or maybe get a couple cabins in&nbsp;<a href="http://www.gatlinburg.com/default.asp">Gatlinburg</a>&nbsp;and have a kick-ass party/gaming weekend</li> <li>Have a memorial for my step-mom</li> <li>Make sure my father gets the medical help that his insurance doesn't always give him.</li> <li>Hire a personal trainer to get me back on the weight-loss plan</li> <li>Hire a maid</li> <li>Buy lots of books to fill up the library in the house</li> <li>Get a good entertainment center for the house</li> <li>Travel around to go to signings for my favorite authors</li> <li>Travel around to see some of my favorite bands/singers</li> <li>Get a membership to the <a href="http://www.nashvillezoo.org/">Zoo</a>,&nbsp;<a href="http://www.adventuresci.com/">the Adventure Science Center</a>&nbsp;and buy tickets for the&nbsp;<a href="http://www.tpac.org/">Broadway at TPAC series</a></li> </ul><div>There's probably a lot more, but those are the things that immediately came to mind.</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6169312327675576736-324388823611059721?l=sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Amber DiTulliohttps://profiles.google.com/110383382274245312911noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6169312327675576736.post-64493345943709056222011-08-20T20:10:00.000-05:002011-08-20T20:10:51.929-05:00I'm not sure what's causing it this week, but I've had a serious case of the blahs. &nbsp;I haven't wanted to update my blog (as you can see by the fact that I haven't updated since Monday), haven't wanted to write my game posts (for which I'm sure Paul's ready to have my head), been putting Swap-Bot things off to the last minute (which has me stressed by the time I do it), haven't been rating for the swaps that I've received (which is driving the people that sent them crazy), barely been getting the house cleaned (which, again, is causing me stress) and feeling like a complete and utter laze-about. &nbsp;The only thing I have been doing - and quite a lot of it - is reading. &nbsp;I finished 5 books in the last week. &nbsp;(Reviews will be coming. &nbsp;Promise.) &nbsp;I have three more going right now. &nbsp;I've been playing a bit on Facebook and Google +, but even that's leaving me&nbsp;dissatisfied.<br /><br />I'm sure some of it is the school situation. &nbsp;Teddy is now out of the house every day, from 7:15 until around 3:45. &nbsp;It's not something I'm used to. &nbsp;And Pete started PDO back on Friday. &nbsp;Throughout the week earlier, I was trying to find things to do with him so he wasn't quite as lonely without his big brother. &nbsp;But even when he was napping, I napped rather than did things that I felt should have been done. &nbsp;Rich isn't kicking me for it - of course. &nbsp;He's a good husband who puts far less on my shoulders than I put on my own. &nbsp;But I'm kicking me for it.<br /><br />I'm hoping it's just a brief phase, as I adjust to the changes going on around me. &nbsp;I have to be aware of the time daily, so I can make sure that I pick Teddy up on time. &nbsp;I have to be up earlier so I can bring Teddy to the bus stop. &nbsp;I have to get used to having just Pete to deal with (who is a whirling dervish of his own). &nbsp;I'm bad with trying to figure out change. &nbsp;It's not that I don't like it. &nbsp;It's just that it takes me awhile to adjust to a new normal.<br /><br />Tomorrow, I have a few hours on my own. &nbsp;Some of it will be doing online things, like updating my blog, doing my book reviews, writing game posts and taking care of Swap stuff. &nbsp;Some of it will be cleaning my boys' room, since I need to go through all their toys and throw away the broken ones/give away the ones they don't play with any more. &nbsp;But much of it will be just enjoying the time on my own. &nbsp;That, I think, is important. Now that religious education classes have started back up at the church, I will have my alone time for awhile. A time when I don't have to worry about picking anyone up or dropping them off. &nbsp;A time that is&nbsp;wholly my own.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6169312327675576736-6449334594370905622?l=sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Amber DiTulliohttps://profiles.google.com/110383382274245312911noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6169312327675576736.post-50831862609258854192011-08-15T13:18:00.000-05:002011-08-15T13:18:40.009-05:00This is another one that could have lists a mile long! &nbsp;But I'll try to keep the lists for this day of&nbsp;<a href="http://sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com/2011/03/starting-another-blog-challenge.html">the List Challenge</a>&nbsp;a bit shorter. &nbsp;Today, I'll tell you about...<br /><br /><b><u>The Cutest Things My Kids Ever Said</u></b><br /><b><u><br /></u></b><br /><br /><ul><li>"I love you in the whole wide world!" Teddy, on a daily basis.</li> <li>"Teddy my best friend." Peter, on a daily basis.</li> <li>"Poliwag, come out and save the day. Use water gun!" Peter, who is taking on his big brother's obsession with Pokemon</li> <li>"I don't need help! I can do it by myself!" Bittersweet, actually. &nbsp;I've heard it from both of us.</li> <li>"Mommy, you're BEAUTIFUL!" Teddy tells me this pretty regularly.</li> <li>"It's ok, Mommy. &nbsp;Everybody makes mistakes." &nbsp;Teddy said this to me when I was feeling pretty bad one day.</li> <li>"You need kisses on me, Teddy." Peter, just now, when Teddy accidentally hurt him.</li> <li>"Kiss him blue parts?" Peter, earlier today when he wanted me to kiss his Papa Smurf.</li> </ul><br /><br />There are more. &nbsp;A lot more. &nbsp;I know there are. &nbsp;But right now, I have little brain for it. &nbsp;I may update this later, if I can think of any more.... or if I have people remind me of a few more!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6169312327675576736-5083186260925885419?l=sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Amber DiTulliohttps://profiles.google.com/110383382274245312911noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6169312327675576736.post-11400387547818743052011-08-15T13:07:00.000-05:002011-08-15T13:07:49.333-05:00<a href="http://sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com/2011/07/30-day-book-challenge-challenge.html">Day 01 – The best book you read this year</a><br /><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com/2011/08/30-day-book-challenge-day-2.html">Day 02 – A book that you’ve read more than 3 times</a></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com/2011/08/30-day-book-challenge-day-3.html">Day 03 – Your favorite series</a></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com/2011/08/30-day-book-challenge-day-4.html">Day 04 – Favorite book of your favorite series</a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com/2011/08/30-day-book-challenge-day-5.html">Day 05 – A book that makes you happy</a></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com/2011/08/day-01-best-book-you-read-this-year-day.html">Day 06 – A book that makes you sad</a></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com/2011/08/30-day-book-challenge-day-7.html">Day 07 – Most underrated book</a></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com/2011/08/30-day-book-challenge-day-8.html">Day 08 – Most overrated book</a><br /><a href="http://sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com/2011/08/30-day-book-challenge-day-8_10.html">Day 09 – A book you thought you wouldn’t like but ended up loving</a></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com/2011/08/30-day-book-challenge-day-10.html">Day 10 – Favorite classic book</a></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com/2011/08/30-day-book-challenge-day-11.html">Day 11 – A book you hated</a></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 12 – A book you used to love but don’t anymore<br /><br /><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&amp;bc1=000000&amp;IS2=1&amp;bg1=FFFFFF&amp;fc1=000000&amp;lc1=0000FF&amp;t=sanitsover-20&amp;o=1&amp;p=8&amp;l=as4&amp;m=amazon&amp;f=ifr&amp;ref=ss_til&amp;asins=0886778042" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe><br /><br />I used to be all about the Valdemar books. &nbsp;And I still enjoy most of them. &nbsp;But <i>Owlflight</i>&nbsp;and the others in the Darian's Tale sub-series just don't do it for me any more. &nbsp;My tastes have changed a lot since I've gotten older.<br /><br /></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 13 – Your favorite writer</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 14 – Book from your favorite writer</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 15 – Favorite male character</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 16 – Favorite female character</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 17 – Favorite quote</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 18: First “chapter book” you can remember reading as a child</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 19 – Favorite book turned into a movie</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 20 - Book that makes you laugh out loud</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 21 – Favorite book from your childhood</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 22 - Book you’re currently reading</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 23 – Your guilty pleasure</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 24 – A book that you wish more people would’ve read</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 25 - Favorite book you read in school</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 26 – A book that changed your opinion about something</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 27 – The most surprising plot twist or ending</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 28 – Favorite title</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 29 – A book everyone hated but you liked</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 30 - Favorite book</div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6169312327675576736-1140038754781874305?l=sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Amber DiTulliohttps://profiles.google.com/110383382274245312911noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6169312327675576736.post-11670261802603892362011-08-15T13:02:00.000-05:002011-08-15T13:02:17.183-05:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lx0TmwlIDb4/Tjf6oQjvIOI/AAAAAAAACyk/RvWt208qA5k/s1600/10+day+challenge.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lx0TmwlIDb4/Tjf6oQjvIOI/AAAAAAAACyk/RvWt208qA5k/s1600/10+day+challenge.png" /></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9vVkGKQgt2o/Tkle-sTupwI/AAAAAAAADKY/atsaf91Tbzg/s1600/DSCN0407.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9vVkGKQgt2o/Tkle-sTupwI/AAAAAAAADKY/atsaf91Tbzg/s400/DSCN0407.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me and the boys. &nbsp;Rich took this one after church yesterday.</td></tr> </tbody></table><br /><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6169312327675576736-1167026180260389236?l=sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Amber DiTulliohttps://profiles.google.com/110383382274245312911noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6169312327675576736.post-23388335705915721892011-08-15T12:57:00.000-05:002011-08-15T12:57:47.051-05:00<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Downsville,_New_York">Downsville, New York</a>. &nbsp;<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/28/nyregion/28towns.html">The best town by a dam site</a>. &nbsp;Hamlet of the town of <a href="http://www.colchesterchamber.com/">Colchester</a>, but the largest hamlet in that town. &nbsp;The home of the<a href="http://education.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-high-schools/listings/new-york/downsville-central-school"> Eagles</a>. &nbsp;One stop light. &nbsp;A handful of stop signs. &nbsp;A <a href="http://www.colchesterchamber.com/patrons/downsvillediner/Diner.htm">diner</a>. A couple grocery store/gas stations. One post office. A <a href="http://usfiredept.com/downsville-fire-department-6547.html">volunteer fire department</a>. &nbsp;Home of the <a href="http://www.coveredbridgesite.com/ny/downsville.html">Downsville Bridge</a>, on the East Branch of the Delaware River. A place with&nbsp;<a href="http://www.facebook.com/groups/259810850713998/">a lot of memories for a lot of people</a>. A place with a lot of heart.<br /><br />This is the town I lived in from the time I was 2 years old until the summer after my freshman year of high school. &nbsp; I started kindergarten at the K-12 school - Downsville Central - in 1979. &nbsp;I knew everyone in my class. &nbsp;There were only around 30 of us. &nbsp;I could walk through town without worry because everyone knew me and my family. &nbsp;Many of the people I'd come across were family. &nbsp;My best friend and I would either play at her parents' pizza parlor and ice cream store or at my Dad's service station. &nbsp;We sold lemonade one summer on the corner, but didn't really make any money.<br /><br />I joined Girl Scouts and my first troop leader was my best friend's grandmother. &nbsp;My aunt was one of my next leaders, and a friend's mother was my last. &nbsp;We met in the Fire Hall on Tuesday afternoons. &nbsp;It was also where we'd hold penny socials. &nbsp;I still remember getting buying tickets and putting them in styrofoam cups for items that I thought I'd want... or sometimes ones without anything at all, because I hated to see anyone's items not be claimed.<br /><br />From Kindergarten... or maybe it was first grade... on, I got out of school early on Thursday afternoons to walk with some of my classmates down the street to the local Catholic Church. &nbsp;There we learned about God and what it meant to be Catholic. &nbsp;We always had our religious education in the rectory next door to the church, usually presided by parents of the students. &nbsp;We went from bedroom to dining room to kitchen to living room as we got older. &nbsp;And we loved to have Father Mullins and his dog Porkchop come through, because Father Mullins was such a warm, wonderful man.<br /><br />We took field trips to <a href="http://newyork.hometownlocator.com/maps/feature-map,ftc,2,fid,955081,n,launt%20pond.cfm">Launt Pond</a>&nbsp;to learn about organisms that lived in the water. &nbsp;Or sometimes to play. &nbsp;We took buses further away, to Cooperstown or Oneonta. &nbsp;There was always somewhere to go and something to learn.<br /><br />I had friends and I had enemies. &nbsp;Sometimes they changed weekly. &nbsp;Things that I did, both the good and the bad, seemed to follow me throughout my days. &nbsp;But when things got really bad, I knew that the town would be there to help. &nbsp;In sixth grade, a friend's house burnt to the ground. &nbsp;We took up a collection to replace her Cabbage Patch doll. &nbsp;The rest of the town was helping with the necessities. &nbsp;We wanted to help with something that would mean more to her.<br /><br />Most of the men in town worked at the quarry. &nbsp;Most of them still do. &nbsp;Most of the women stayed home with the kids. &nbsp;Now they are working outside the home - either in town or, more regularly, far outside it. &nbsp;My sister drives 45 minutes each way to get to her job. &nbsp;But she'd never consider leaving Downsville. &nbsp;It's her home.<br /><br />It wasn't always a pleasant place for me to be. &nbsp;As I got older, I was teased more and more. &nbsp;I was poor, I was sensitive, I was socially awkward, I was overweight and I was smart. &nbsp;All the things that kids use against those they want to ostracize. &nbsp;And with the town as small as it was, that meant I didn't really have anywhere else to go. &nbsp;It's one of the reasons why I left, why I moved from this tiny town to a larger one in Florida where I could fit in with someone.<br /><br />Even with all of that, Downsville is still the home of my heart. &nbsp;The people that teased me mercilessly in those days are now friends, asking how things are going in my life while I ask the same of them. &nbsp;People that I looked up to as adults are now treating me like an adult. &nbsp;I can come home and be recognized, even having left over 20 years ago. &nbsp;I still have a lot of family there, which helps it feel like home. &nbsp;But that isn't the only thing that makes me want to return. &nbsp;It's the sense of community that you can't get in a larger city. &nbsp;It's the knowledge that people will be there for you if you need it. &nbsp;That you'll always have someone to keep an eye on your kids if you need to run to the store, or have to make an emergency trip to the doctors. &nbsp;It's the knowledge that people matter... even if they don't always get along.<br /><br />There are times I'd love to have my boys growing up in that environment. &nbsp;When I'd love them to have the sense of community that I had growing up. &nbsp;But I also love the larger school system we have here. &nbsp;Teddy's a lot like I was growing up. In a smaller school, I'd worry about him running through the same problems that I did. &nbsp;Academically, he's where he needs to be. &nbsp;And even socially, I know that we have good friends here. &nbsp;But I'm hoping to be able to spend a lot of summers there so Downsville will become a home to them, somewhere in their hearts, as well.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6169312327675576736-2338833570591572189?l=sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Amber DiTulliohttps://profiles.google.com/110383382274245312911noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6169312327675576736.post-8874568491514681532011-08-14T22:13:00.000-05:002011-08-14T22:13:37.253-05:00Things have been a bit hectic the last couple of days, so I wasn't able to do any of my challenges. &nbsp;But I'm back now (as you may have noticed from the previous posts that I've made). &nbsp;Now I'm at the half way point for the&nbsp;<a href="http://sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com/2011/03/starting-another-blog-challenge.html">List Challenge</a>. &nbsp;And this is one that I'm going to enjoy writing up quite a bit. &nbsp;Because it's a list of...<br /><br /><b><u>People Who Love Me</u></b><br /><i>(And I know it's not going to be an inclusive list, so if you don't see your name on here, it's just because I couldn't write everyone.)</i><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uXNnxQSTht8/TXlx_NYD56I/AAAAAAAAA-Q/YQKzrZZ8840/s1600/DSCN2907.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uXNnxQSTht8/TXlx_NYD56I/AAAAAAAAA-Q/YQKzrZZ8840/s320/DSCN2907.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rich</td></tr> </tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ovOd5P5S0S8/TkiD0kA9YTI/AAAAAAAADH0/xo0FoBmx6NU/s1600/DSCN0402.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ovOd5P5S0S8/TkiD0kA9YTI/AAAAAAAADH0/xo0FoBmx6NU/s320/DSCN0402.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Teddy &amp; Peter</td></tr> </tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/40567_434142368837_672473837_4931014_3163070_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/40567_434142368837_672473837_4931014_3163070_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mom &amp; Stubby</td></tr> </tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-I5rzqJs_f_Q/TRYaSOt1tcI/AAAAAAAAAcI/9kHp1GbVTV4/s1600/DSCN2532.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-I5rzqJs_f_Q/TRYaSOt1tcI/AAAAAAAAAcI/9kHp1GbVTV4/s320/DSCN2532.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Daddy<br /></td></tr> </tbody></table><ul><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></div><li>Deni &amp; Mike</li> <li>Rob &amp; Brandie</li> <li>All my nieces and nephews</li> <li>Mom &amp; Dad D</li> <li>Robin &amp; Simo</li> <li>Aunt Laura</li> <li>Dave &amp; Barb</li> <li>Tracie</li> <li>Carm</li> <li>More family and friends than I can probably count</li> </ul><div>(I wanted to try to put pics up of everyone, but realized that I don't have pics of everyone. &nbsp;:( &nbsp;So I stuck with my mom &amp; Dad, Rich and the boys. &nbsp;I hope no one is offended.)</div><br /><br /><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6169312327675576736-887456849151468153?l=sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Amber DiTulliohttps://profiles.google.com/110383382274245312911noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6169312327675576736.post-23491579382466682742011-08-14T21:48:00.001-05:002011-08-15T13:03:00.800-05:00<a href="http://sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com/2011/07/30-day-book-challenge-challenge.html">Day 01 – The best book you read this year</a><br /><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com/2011/08/30-day-book-challenge-day-2.html">Day 02 – A book that you’ve read more than 3 times</a></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com/2011/08/30-day-book-challenge-day-3.html">Day 03 – Your favorite series</a></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com/2011/08/30-day-book-challenge-day-4.html">Day 04 – Favorite book of your favorite series</a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com/2011/08/30-day-book-challenge-day-5.html">Day 05 – A book that makes you happy</a></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com/2011/08/day-01-best-book-you-read-this-year-day.html">Day 06 – A book that makes you sad</a></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com/2011/08/30-day-book-challenge-day-7.html">Day 07 – Most underrated book</a></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com/2011/08/30-day-book-challenge-day-8.html">Day 08 – Most overrated book</a><br /><a href="http://sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com/2011/08/30-day-book-challenge-day-8_10.html">Day 09 – A book you thought you wouldn’t like but ended up loving</a></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com/2011/08/30-day-book-challenge-day-10.html">Day 10 – Favorite classic book</a></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com/2011/08/30-day-book-challenge-day-11.html">Day 11 – A book you hated</a><br /><br /><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&amp;bc1=000000&amp;IS2=1&amp;bg1=FFFFFF&amp;fc1=000000&amp;lc1=0000FF&amp;t=sanitsover-20&amp;o=1&amp;p=8&amp;l=as4&amp;m=amazon&amp;f=ifr&amp;ref=ss_til&amp;asins=1936041030" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe><br /><br />This was a hard one for me to come up with because, as a general rule, I try to forget things that I hate. &nbsp;So the closest that I could come up with was <i>Crime and Punishment.</i>&nbsp;I was required to read it for AP English Lit my senior year and it just dragged. &nbsp;I couldn't get into it. &nbsp;I haven't tried it since, but all the negative connotations of having been required to read it then (and failing a paper on it) make me reluctant to give it another try.<br /><br /></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 12 – A book you used to love but don’t anymore</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 13 – Your favorite writer</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 14 – Book from your favorite writer</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 15 – Favorite male character</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 16 – Favorite female character</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 17 – Favorite quote</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 18: First “chapter book” you can remember reading as a child</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 19 – Favorite book turned into a movie</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 20 - Book that makes you laugh out loud</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 21 – Favorite book from your childhood</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 22 - Book you’re currently reading</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 23 – Your guilty pleasure</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 24 – A book that you wish more people would’ve read</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 25 - Favorite book you read in school</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 26 – A book that changed your opinion about something</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 27 – The most surprising plot twist or ending</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 28 – Favorite title</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 29 – A book everyone hated but you liked</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 30 - Favorite book</div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6169312327675576736-2349157938246668274?l=sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Amber DiTulliohttps://profiles.google.com/110383382274245312911noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6169312327675576736.post-71850924053646343542011-08-14T21:42:00.000-05:002011-08-14T21:42:14.593-05:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lx0TmwlIDb4/Tjf6oQjvIOI/AAAAAAAACyk/RvWt208qA5k/s1600/10+day+challenge.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lx0TmwlIDb4/Tjf6oQjvIOI/AAAAAAAACyk/RvWt208qA5k/s1600/10+day+challenge.png" /></a></div><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/_ivt_N2Zcts" width="425"></iframe><br />I've always thought this video described the various aspects of who I am to a T. &nbsp;I'm not one thing. &nbsp;No one is.<br /><br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/-I2i5cPHgW8" width="425"></iframe><br /><br />I'm also extraordinary. &nbsp;Who isn't?<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6169312327675576736-7185092405364634354?l=sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Amber DiTulliohttps://profiles.google.com/110383382274245312911noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6169312327675576736.post-45874082445087380312011-08-14T21:32:00.000-05:002011-08-14T21:32:12.282-05:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ge3OcQpNQFI/TkQbgzartII/AAAAAAAADDw/kPdSgrkWvXk/s1600/DSCN0371.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ge3OcQpNQFI/TkQbgzartII/AAAAAAAADDw/kPdSgrkWvXk/s320/DSCN0371.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SB0K0DumsSI/TkCBZ4RDG2I/AAAAAAAADIk/aZrwFN-YPT4/s1600/DSCN0362.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SB0K0DumsSI/TkCBZ4RDG2I/AAAAAAAADIk/aZrwFN-YPT4/s320/DSCN0362.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BffoPiBc0Lw/TkCBYLjSr8I/AAAAAAAAC2w/I5cjVPPRMFw/s1600/DSCN0360.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BffoPiBc0Lw/TkCBYLjSr8I/AAAAAAAAC2w/I5cjVPPRMFw/s320/DSCN0360.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Gs0eE16Rwmk/TkCBONoBwkI/AAAAAAAAC2M/uznG4bb_E64/s1600/DSCN0333.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Gs0eE16Rwmk/TkCBONoBwkI/AAAAAAAAC2M/uznG4bb_E64/s320/DSCN0333.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HKn_kyfuE40/TkiD3okfRbI/AAAAAAAADIE/sgPndJ9rEIM/s1600/DSCN0407.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HKn_kyfuE40/TkiD3okfRbI/AAAAAAAADIE/sgPndJ9rEIM/s320/DSCN0407.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MUarqPhXaQk/TkiEzBgdOxI/AAAAAAAADJo/4TGCRi6Zh48/s1600/DSCN0384.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MUarqPhXaQk/TkiEzBgdOxI/AAAAAAAADJo/4TGCRi6Zh48/s320/DSCN0384.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6169312327675576736-4587408244508738031?l=sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Amber DiTulliohttps://profiles.google.com/110383382274245312911noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6169312327675576736.post-79349144657685648182011-08-11T20:51:00.000-05:002011-08-11T20:51:29.331-05:00Today was a big day in our household, one I'd been alternately excited for and dreading terribly. &nbsp;It was Teddy's first day of school.<br /><br />Last night, we read Kindergarten stories. &nbsp;I told Teddy we needed to be up at 6. &nbsp;I fully expected him to be awake before that. &nbsp;He usually is.<br /><br />But when six o'clock came, he was still fast asleep. &nbsp;For the first time in a very long time, I've had to wake him up rather than him being awake, waiting to hear Daddy or I get up. &nbsp;It was actually a pretty easy morning this morning because Teddy was having brunch at school not long after he got there, and we had everything together in his backpack otherwise. &nbsp;We went outside to take a few pictures, then headed for the bus.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0F51i03dsq8/TkQbeV6yU3I/AAAAAAAADDY/u3fN8WRXqio/s1600/DSCN0366.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0F51i03dsq8/TkQbeV6yU3I/AAAAAAAADDY/u3fN8WRXqio/s320/DSCN0366.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Teddy, ready to head off into the wilds of Kindergarten.</td></tr> </tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rY9wz0Y-muQ/TkQbe52uM6I/AAAAAAAADEI/x4ME-d5UDtM/s1600/DSCN0367.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rY9wz0Y-muQ/TkQbe52uM6I/AAAAAAAADEI/x4ME-d5UDtM/s320/DSCN0367.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Peter wanted to go to Kindergarten too.</td></tr> </tbody></table><br /><br />The bus was supposed to be at the entrance to our apartment complex at 7:21 and we were supposed to be at the stop about 10 minutes early. &nbsp;Since Rich, Pete and I were going to be meeting him at the school (the school system wanted the kindergarteners that were going to be bus riders to ride the first day of school... kind of get to know the driver, get to know the bus stop... things like that), we drove up and waited. &nbsp;And waited. &nbsp;And waited. &nbsp;At about 7:41, we decided that we'd waited long enough and drove to school instead.<br /><br />A mile trip took us 20 minutes. &nbsp;Traffic is always bad on the road outside our complex (which is the same road the school is on). &nbsp;This morning, I think because there were so many parents bringing their kids to school, it was worse than usual. &nbsp;When we finally got to the school, I dropped Teddy and Rich off at the school and then drove down the road to find a place to park. &nbsp;Great people at the school, but it's really not an ideal set up for visitors, arrival or departure. &nbsp;I ended up parking near an abandoned service station down the road and walking back with Pete.<br /><br />The only time Pete was upset was the minute I dropped Teddy &amp; Rich off. &nbsp;He was&nbsp;devastated&nbsp;that Teddy and Daddy were leaving him. &nbsp;But as we walked up the road to the school, and then got into Teddy's classroom, he was fine.<br /><br />Teddy, on the other hand, wasn't. &nbsp;My poor baby was sitting at a table near the door, not wanting to color or read like the other kids. &nbsp;We talked to him for a few minutes and when it was time to say good-bye, he started to cry. &nbsp;I never expected it from him. &nbsp;Teddy's always been the kind of kid that goes into a new situation - especially one where he can make friends - with a smile and a boatload of enthusiasm. &nbsp;To see him crying today just broke my heart.<br /><br />"I'll miss you, Mommy," he told me. &nbsp;I hugged him and told him that today, he'd only be there for a couple hours. Daddy, Peter and I would be back at 11:30 to pick him up and the time would fly by. &nbsp;He would have too much fun to think about missing us too much. &nbsp;It didn't really help. &nbsp;His teacher saw him crying and asked him for a high five, which he gave and then dropped his head to the table again. &nbsp;I didn't want to leave him, but I knew I had to. &nbsp;I couldn't sit there with him all day.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ge3OcQpNQFI/TkQbgzartII/AAAAAAAADDw/kPdSgrkWvXk/s1600/DSCN0371.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ge3OcQpNQFI/TkQbgzartII/AAAAAAAADDw/kPdSgrkWvXk/s320/DSCN0371.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Teddy, sitting at the desk in his classroom.</td></tr> </tbody></table><br /><br />I was also surprised that I didn't cry (though, for some perverse reason, I'm starting to tear up now). &nbsp;But I was relatively okay with dropping him off. &nbsp;Rich and I took Pete out to McDonald's for breakfast and a bit of time to play there, then headed back home for an hour. &nbsp;We'd been warned by Teddy's teacher that we'd probably want to get there early because it would back up a lot. &nbsp;We got there at 11 and it was already backed up. &nbsp;So we sat in the car for 30 minutes, waiting for the kids to be released. &nbsp;Once they were, though, things started moving pretty quickly. One of the teachers, or aides or someone, went to get Teddy when we told her who we were there for and brought him to the van. <br /><br />He was a bit happier when we picked him up, he was still pretty subdued. &nbsp;I think the whole day kind of got to him. &nbsp;We took him to his favorite place for lunch, Dragon Phoenix, and he hardly ate there either. &nbsp;It was definitely a big day for all of us. Though he did have a picture to give us that he'd drawn at school that day. &nbsp;Mainly, it was scribbles. &nbsp;But my son is abstract artist most of the time anyway. ;)<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BJVgDexA_Qg/TkQbiXjwUFI/AAAAAAAADC4/O4UYGKjx8nw/s1600/DSCN0375.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BJVgDexA_Qg/TkQbiXjwUFI/AAAAAAAADC4/O4UYGKjx8nw/s320/DSCN0375.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">His first official piece of Kindergarten art.</td></tr> </tbody></table><br /><br />Now he doesn't go back until Monday, and that day will be a 1/2 day as well. &nbsp;Based on today, I think I'm going to drop him off and pick him up on Monday again, and starting with his full day on Tuesday, he'll start taking the bus. &nbsp;I know that he'll get used to it, but I still worry about him. &nbsp;After all, he is my little boy.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5u9z7rqNpSk/TkQbkfShG0I/AAAAAAAADD8/CGlVrkel01E/s1600/DSCN0378.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5u9z7rqNpSk/TkQbkfShG0I/AAAAAAAADD8/CGlVrkel01E/s320/DSCN0378.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Teddy, showing his style at Dragon Phoenix<br /></td></tr> </tbody></table>I'm thankful that I was able to see him on his first day of school. &nbsp;And that I could try to ease his fears as I could.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6169312327675576736-7934914465768564818?l=sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Amber DiTulliohttps://profiles.google.com/110383382274245312911noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6169312327675576736.post-25024244776395397302011-08-11T19:30:00.000-05:002011-08-11T19:30:07.009-05:00<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://about.me/sanitysoverrated"><img alt="" src="http://img.bzzagent.com/image/aboutme.jpg?Type=activity&amp;Activity=8907819073&amp;Campaign=4813611877&amp;Uid=511170&amp;token=5a3db3380ece9818bead6e4f14d7df61" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Through BzzAgent, I found was directed to about.me. &nbsp;It's a website that lets you build a splash page to put all your online locations in one place, making it easier for people to go from one of your locations to any other with the click of a button. &nbsp;You have complete autonomy regarding what you add. &nbsp;They have links for several sites, such as Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn, as well as the ability to add other URLs for places without quick links. &nbsp;You can say whatever you'd like about yourself, telling as much or as little in your blurb. &nbsp;This is ideal if you want to direct people to a lot of different locations that you frequent. All you need to do is add your about.me page to your sig line in an e-mail.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I'm hoping to get a lot of use for this. &nbsp;I haven't used it too much yet, though I am planning on putting it on my Swap-Bot profile so I can take out the multitude of links I have there now. &nbsp;I'm probably going to keep my link for my blog in my sig separately, but I'm considering adding my about.me page as well. &nbsp;You never know when someone new may decide to check out what you do online.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">If you're curious to see my about.me page, just follow the&nbsp;<a href="http://about.me/sanitysoverrated">link</a>.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Disclosure: I received information about the above website through BzzAgent. &nbsp;All thoughts and opinions are my own.</span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6169312327675576736-2502424477639539730?l=sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Amber DiTulliohttps://profiles.google.com/110383382274245312911noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6169312327675576736.post-5438161274663584202011-08-10T12:10:00.000-05:002011-08-10T12:10:28.663-05:00Almost half way through the <a href="http://sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com/2011/03/starting-another-blog-challenge.html">List Challenge</a>.<br /><br /><a href="http://sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com/search/label/memories%20monday">Memories Monday</a> ties into what this list is about. It's about writing your autobiography. &nbsp;And that is something I've flirted with off and on, even if it's only to give to my kids so they have a record of my life. &nbsp;If I were ever to write an autobiography, these are the things you'd see in it.<br /><br /><b><u>The High Points for Your Autobiography</u></b><br /><b><u><br /></u></b><br /><br /><ul><li>Being born</li> <li>The whole in my neck</li> <li>Living in Downsville</li> <li>My parents separation and divorce</li> <li>My move to Florida and the friends I found there</li> <li>My mixed up love life</li> <li>Seven years that taught me more than any other</li> <li>Living in New York and being a Doper</li> <li>September 11th</li> <li>Meeting the love of my life</li> <li>Getting engaged and moving to Philadelphia</li> <li>A year without work</li> <li>My wedding</li> <li>We're having a baby.... and moving to Nashville</li> <li>Part time work</li> <li>Teddy gets a little brother</li> <li>The year I worked while Rich stayed home</li> <li>Family loss</li> <li>Trials and tribulations of being a stay-at-home mom</li> </ul><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6169312327675576736-543816127466358420?l=sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Amber DiTulliohttps://profiles.google.com/110383382274245312911noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6169312327675576736.post-55614395391512855262011-08-10T12:02:00.000-05:002011-08-10T12:02:55.509-05:00Once again, we're back for T<a href="http://sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com/2011/03/starting-another-blog-challenge.html">he List Challenge</a>. Today's list involves someone very, very close to my heart. &nbsp;My husband, Rich.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><u>Reasons Why You Love Your Significant Other</u></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-diQwnfPqJWA/TWvxjzsRWDI/AAAAAAAAA2k/W_pH_p6wmEU/s1600/DSCN2597.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-diQwnfPqJWA/TWvxjzsRWDI/AAAAAAAAA2k/W_pH_p6wmEU/s320/DSCN2597.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><ul><li>He has a fantastic sense of humor</li> <li>He knows all the in-jokes</li> <li>He gave me two wonderful little boys</li> <li>He can pull me back out of depression when I'm feeling low</li> <li>I feel secure when he's holding me</li> <li>He's a great cook</li> <li>He has a lot of the same tastes in books and movies that I do</li> <li>He doesn't complain when I need to get away for a little Me time</li> <li>He accepts me for who I am and only tries to help me change the things that I want to change</li> <li>He's the one that my heart and soul tell me I should be spending my life with</li> </ul><br /><br /><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6169312327675576736-5561439539151285526?l=sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Amber DiTulliohttps://profiles.google.com/110383382274245312911noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6169312327675576736.post-26215884383737097842011-08-10T11:53:00.000-05:002011-08-10T11:53:29.121-05:00<a href="http://sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com/2011/07/30-day-book-challenge-challenge.html">Day 01 – The best book you read this year</a><br /><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com/2011/08/30-day-book-challenge-day-2.html">Day 02 – A book that you’ve read more than 3 times</a></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com/2011/08/30-day-book-challenge-day-3.html">Day 03 – Your favorite series</a></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com/2011/08/30-day-book-challenge-day-4.html">Day 04 – Favorite book of your favorite series</a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com/2011/08/30-day-book-challenge-day-5.html">Day 05 – A book that makes you happy</a></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com/2011/08/day-01-best-book-you-read-this-year-day.html">Day 06 – A book that makes you sad</a></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com/2011/08/30-day-book-challenge-day-7.html">Day 07 – Most underrated book</a></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com/2011/08/30-day-book-challenge-day-8.html">Day 08 – Most overrated book</a><br /><a href="http://sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com/2011/08/30-day-book-challenge-day-8_10.html">Day 09 – A book you thought you wouldn’t like but ended up loving</a></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 10 – Favorite classic book<br /><br /><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&amp;bc1=000000&amp;IS2=1&amp;bg1=FFFFFF&amp;fc1=000000&amp;lc1=0000FF&amp;t=sanitsover-20&amp;o=1&amp;p=8&amp;l=as4&amp;m=amazon&amp;f=ifr&amp;ref=ss_til&amp;asins=0060850523" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe>&nbsp;I actually saw the&nbsp;<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0145600/">movie</a>&nbsp;before I ever read the book, but the movie impressed me quite a bit. &nbsp;The idea of a future being completely controlled by others is a frightening one. Being basically forced to be happy and compliant makes me shudder. &nbsp;But Huxley wrote a wonderful story of this confined uptopia and the chance for one man to try to break free from the mold.<br /><br /></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 11 – A book you hated</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 12 – A book you used to love but don’t anymore</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 13 – Your favorite writer</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 14 – Book from your favorite writer</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 15 – Favorite male character</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 16 – Favorite female character</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 17 – Favorite quote</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 18: First “chapter book” you can remember reading as a child</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 19 – Favorite book turned into a movie</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 20 - Book that makes you laugh out loud</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 21 – Favorite book from your childhood</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 22 - Book you’re currently reading</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 23 – Your guilty pleasure</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 24 – A book that you wish more people would’ve read</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 25 - Favorite book you read in school</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 26 – A book that changed your opinion about something</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 27 – The most surprising plot twist or ending</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 28 – Favorite title</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 29 – A book everyone hated but you liked</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 30 - Favorite book</div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6169312327675576736-2621588438373709784?l=sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Amber DiTulliohttps://profiles.google.com/110383382274245312911noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6169312327675576736.post-41564805744113033752011-08-10T11:30:00.002-05:002011-08-10T11:34:08.452-05:00<a href="http://sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com/2011/07/30-day-book-challenge-challenge.html">Day 01 – The best book you read this year</a><br /><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com/2011/08/30-day-book-challenge-day-2.html">Day 02 – A book that you’ve read more than 3 times</a></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com/2011/08/30-day-book-challenge-day-3.html">Day 03 – Your favorite series</a></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com/2011/08/30-day-book-challenge-day-4.html">Day 04 – Favorite book of your favorite series</a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com/2011/08/30-day-book-challenge-day-5.html">Day 05 – A book that makes you happy</a></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com/2011/08/day-01-best-book-you-read-this-year-day.html">Day 06 – A book that makes you sad</a></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com/2011/08/30-day-book-challenge-day-7.html">Day 07 – Most underrated book</a></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com/2011/08/30-day-book-challenge-day-8.html">Day 08 – Most overrated book</a><br />Day 09 – A book you thought you wouldn’t like but ended up loving<br /><br /><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&amp;bc1=000000&amp;IS2=1&amp;bg1=FFFFFF&amp;fc1=000000&amp;lc1=0000FF&amp;t=sanitsover-20&amp;o=1&amp;p=8&amp;l=as4&amp;m=amazon&amp;f=ifr&amp;ref=ss_til&amp;asins=0345444884" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe>&nbsp;As a general rule, I don't care for horror novels. &nbsp;I have way too active of an imagination and I end up with nightmares and the conviction that someone is coming in the window to kill me. &nbsp;Not a good combination. &nbsp;So when a friend suggested I read <i>The Talisman</i>, I was&nbsp;skeptical but thought I'd give it a try anyway. &nbsp;Not only did I finish it, but I finished it quickly and found that I really enjoyed the story. &nbsp;It didn't freak me out as much as I suspected it would. &nbsp;It's not one that I re-read much, but it is a book that I'm glad I read.<br /><br /><br /></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 10 – Favorite classic book</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 11 – A book you hated</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 12 – A book you used to love but don’t anymore</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 13 – Your favorite writer</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 14 – Book from your favorite writer</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 15 – Favorite male character</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 16 – Favorite female character</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 17 – Favorite quote</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 18: First “chapter book” you can remember reading as a child</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 19 – Favorite book turned into a movie</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 20 - Book that makes you laugh out loud</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 21 – Favorite book from your childhood</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 22 - Book you’re currently reading</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 23 – Your guilty pleasure</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 24 – A book that you wish more people would’ve read</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 25 - Favorite book you read in school</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 26 – A book that changed your opinion about something</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 27 – The most surprising plot twist or ending</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 28 – Favorite title</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 29 – A book everyone hated but you liked</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 30 - Favorite book</div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6169312327675576736-4156480574411303375?l=sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Amber DiTulliohttps://profiles.google.com/110383382274245312911noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6169312327675576736.post-71289082515200706142011-08-10T11:02:00.000-05:002011-08-10T11:02:48.847-05:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lx0TmwlIDb4/Tjf6oQjvIOI/AAAAAAAACyk/RvWt208qA5k/s1600/10+day+challenge.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lx0TmwlIDb4/Tjf6oQjvIOI/AAAAAAAACyk/RvWt208qA5k/s1600/10+day+challenge.png" /></a></div><br /><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&amp;bc1=000000&amp;IS2=1&amp;bg1=FFFFFF&amp;fc1=000000&amp;lc1=0000FF&amp;t=sanitsover-20&amp;o=1&amp;p=8&amp;l=as4&amp;m=amazon&amp;f=ifr&amp;ref=ss_til&amp;asins=0440228158" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe>&nbsp;I love movies with strong female characters. &nbsp;I love the idea that you don't need to wait for your princess to rescue you, that you can rescue yourself. &nbsp;<i>Ever After</i>&nbsp;turns Cinderella on it's ear. &nbsp;It's romantic and positive and funny... and I love Drew Barrymore.<br /><br /><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&amp;bc1=000000&amp;IS2=1&amp;bg1=FFFFFF&amp;fc1=000000&amp;lc1=0000FF&amp;t=sanitsover-20&amp;o=1&amp;p=8&amp;l=as4&amp;m=amazon&amp;f=ifr&amp;ref=ss_til&amp;asins=B0000648XE" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe>&nbsp;<i>The 10th Kingdom</i>&nbsp;was a mini-series on NBC back in 2000. &nbsp;A woman, uncertain what to do with her life and living with her father on the edge of Central Park, stumbles into the Fairy Tale kingdoms about 200 years after the events that take place in the fairy tales we know and love. &nbsp;Happily Ever After didn't last as long as they'd thought (according to Wolf). &nbsp;It's a journey of self-discovery for so many of the characters, and not everything does end happily. &nbsp;One of the best parts, for me, is seeing Camryn Manheim as Snow White. &nbsp;No pencil thin Snow Whites for me!<br /><br /><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&amp;bc1=000000&amp;IS2=1&amp;bg1=FFFFFF&amp;fc1=000000&amp;lc1=0000FF&amp;t=sanitsover-20&amp;o=1&amp;p=8&amp;l=as4&amp;m=amazon&amp;f=ifr&amp;ref=ss_til&amp;asins=B00003CX9D" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe>&nbsp;This is the first.... well, maybe <i>only</i>&nbsp;Kevin Smith movie I've watched. &nbsp;Like the two movies I mentioned above, this also has a very positive female lead. &nbsp;The movie is a fantastic story of what love is and what it isn't, and how you can't change things (in this case, sexuality) for someone else. &nbsp;If you haven't seen it, I definitely recommend it.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6169312327675576736-7128908251520070614?l=sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Amber DiTulliohttps://profiles.google.com/110383382274245312911noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6169312327675576736.post-9553048480262476662011-08-10T10:30:00.000-05:002011-08-10T10:30:48.634-05:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lx0TmwlIDb4/Tjf6oQjvIOI/AAAAAAAACyk/RvWt208qA5k/s1600/10+day+challenge.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lx0TmwlIDb4/Tjf6oQjvIOI/AAAAAAAACyk/RvWt208qA5k/s1600/10+day+challenge.png" /></a></div><br /><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&amp;bc1=000000&amp;IS2=1&amp;bg1=FFFFFF&amp;fc1=000000&amp;lc1=0000FF&amp;t=sanitsover-20&amp;o=1&amp;p=8&amp;l=as4&amp;m=amazon&amp;f=ifr&amp;ref=ss_til&amp;asins=0345350499" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe>&nbsp;<i>The Mists of Avalon</i>&nbsp;has long been one of my favorite books. &nbsp;I read it for the first time when I was in middle school and I loved the female-centric view of Arthurian legend. &nbsp;I try to re-read it every couple of years or so.<br /><br /><br /><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&amp;bc1=000000&amp;IS2=1&amp;bg1=FFFFFF&amp;fc1=000000&amp;lc1=0000FF&amp;t=sanitsover-20&amp;o=1&amp;p=8&amp;l=as4&amp;m=amazon&amp;f=ifr&amp;ref=ss_til&amp;asins=0553587064" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe>&nbsp;As I've said in some of my previous reviews, I absolutely love Kelley Armstrong. &nbsp;I devour everything of hers that I can. &nbsp;<i>Dime Store Magic</i>&nbsp;was my introduction to her <i>Women of the Otherworld</i>&nbsp;series and her writing in general. &nbsp;It's such a great paranormal series that never gets dull.<br /><br /><br /><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&amp;bc1=000000&amp;IS2=1&amp;bg1=FFFFFF&amp;fc1=000000&amp;lc1=0000FF&amp;t=sanitsover-20&amp;o=1&amp;p=8&amp;l=as4&amp;m=amazon&amp;f=ifr&amp;ref=ss_til&amp;asins=B003N868RA" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe>&nbsp;I was introduced to <i>A Prayer for Owen Meany</i>&nbsp;when I was in college. &nbsp;It was required reading for my contemporary literature class. &nbsp;It was a book that grabbed me and held on through it's sometimes strange ride. &nbsp;I always admired Owen's conviction that he was meant for something great. &nbsp;I wish I had that kind of conviction myself.<br /><br /><br /><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&amp;bc1=000000&amp;IS2=1&amp;bg1=FFFFFF&amp;fc1=000000&amp;lc1=0000FF&amp;t=sanitsover-20&amp;o=1&amp;p=8&amp;l=as4&amp;m=amazon&amp;f=ifr&amp;ref=ss_til&amp;asins=1563891387" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe>&nbsp;<i>Sandman </i>is, in my opinion, the greatest comic series ever. &nbsp;The characters are diverse and engaging, the artwork is beautiful, the writing is superb and the stories cover so many things that there should be a little something for anyone. &nbsp;But of all the <i>Sandman</i>&nbsp;graphic novels, <i>Brief Lives </i>is my favorite. &nbsp;The youngest of the Endless, Delirium, is the catalyst for the story, desperately wanting to find her brother, Destruction. &nbsp;The journey shows us more about Delerium, introduces us to Destruction and ends up being the final nail in Dream's coffin, which brings brings about his downfall. &nbsp;I wouldn't start with this book in the series, but I would definitely try to make it this far.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6169312327675576736-955304848026247666?l=sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Amber DiTulliohttps://profiles.google.com/110383382274245312911noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6169312327675576736.post-47954215008756659942011-08-10T09:36:00.000-05:002011-08-10T09:36:17.038-05:00Last night, Teddy's school had a Kindergarten Open House so the parents could meet the teachers, find out a bit more info regarding the school in general and the teacher specifically, as well as let the kids get an idea what their classroom looks like. &nbsp;It started at 6, but I don't think it was too well publicized. &nbsp;I only found it because I happened to be checking something on their website regarding the kindergarten teachers. &nbsp;Being at 6:00, Rich was able to come as well.<br /><br />We got a little lost looking for Teddy's kindergarten classroom. &nbsp;There's a large bunch of them together and a few over by the office. &nbsp;Teddy's classroom, of course, is by the office. &nbsp;But once we found it, we got to meet his kindergarten teacher and take a look around the classroom. &nbsp;It a very bright classroom and one that I think Teddy's going to love being in. &nbsp;After a few minutes, the principal and a few others came on the CCTV to introduce themselves and tell us a little about the school. &nbsp;Then the teacher got her turn to tell us about her classroom.<br /><br />We ran into a small problem ourselves because Pete has yet to figure out the meaning of the word "quiet". &nbsp;While everyone was trying to listen to the principal and the teacher, he was babbling away as loudly as possible. &nbsp;Rich ended up having to take him back to the car. &nbsp;And he wasn't too happy with it. &nbsp;I tried to remember as much as possible to tell him when we were finished.<br /><br />But the upshot is, I like Teddy's teacher. &nbsp;From what I saw and what I heard, she really does like to make learning fun. &nbsp;She's got a neat behavior chart and a wonderful reward system. &nbsp;The class size doesn't seem huge - maybe a dozen kids? &nbsp;So there should be plenty of time for individual attention if necessary. &nbsp;She also sends home daily progress reports that need to be initialed so she knows that we saw them. &nbsp;I like that kind of interaction.<br /><br />My biggest worry with Teddy isn't the learning portion of things but something that we thought he'd had mastered already - pooping. &nbsp;Over the last couple of months, he's had to change his underwear because they're poopy two or three times a day. &nbsp;Sometimes it's that he doesn't want to stop what he's doing to go to the bathroom and doesn't realize until he's already pooped. &nbsp;Other times, it's that he hasn't wiped well enough. Rich and I have tried to show him the best way to wipe, we've checked his butt when he was done... but it never seems to work well. &nbsp;I'm hoping this won't be something Teddy will continue while he's in school, but I can't bet on it. &nbsp;I did warn his teacher and I will be sending extra underpants to school with him every day. &nbsp;I've read at some of the parenting sites that this is common for the age. &nbsp;I just wish I knew how to help him make sure he gets to the bathroom and cleans himself up better. &nbsp;Any advice will be greatly appreciated!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6169312327675576736-4795421500875665994?l=sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Amber DiTulliohttps://profiles.google.com/110383382274245312911noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6169312327675576736.post-73743807479001757272011-08-10T09:07:00.000-05:002011-08-10T09:07:40.413-05:00Welcome to the first Your Topic Tuesday. &nbsp;(Yes, I know it's Wednesday, but life got busier than expected yesterday.) &nbsp;I'll be talking about topics that you, my readers, ask me to talk about. &nbsp;Maybe there's something I've mentioned in a previous post that you'd like to know a little more about. &nbsp;Maybe you want to know my thoughts on some burning issue. Maybe you just want me to write some silly things. &nbsp;Whatever the topic (within reason and decency standards), I randomly choose someone's topic and tell you my thoughts. &nbsp;If you want to suggest a topic, just comment below!<br /><br />Last week, there was only one topic request. So this week's topic comes from Les (or RoryBore, as you'll see her in comments) at Time Out for Mom. (Click on the button below to check out her site.)<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><center><a href="http://amothersluv.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src="http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb377/rorybore/GEDC0133-1.jpg" /></a></center><br /><br />The topic was this:<br /><br /><blockquote><i>I don't know why, but I am soooo fascinated by the South. Maybe it's because I watched Gone with the Wind when I was young, and then it was the first "big" book that read as a teenager. We also drove to Florida when I was a teenager, and I fell in love with the architecture, the gardens, the antique stores. Of course, being a northern Canadian, I am sure my impressions of the South, and Southerns is not likely entirely accurate. Do ladies really gossip at the local beauty parlour like in Steel Magnolia's?? I don't know.....but I would love to know more about it....from a real Southerner so to speak.</i></blockquote><br />It's hard to talk about the South, in large part because different parts of the south are as different as the various cities in the Northeast. Even the various cities that I've visited rather than lived in feel differently from one another. &nbsp;But today, I'm going to talk about the two versions of the South that I've had the pleasure to call home: Florida and Tennessee.<br /><br />Florida is a really odd place. &nbsp;In many ways, it feels like it should be somewhere around Maryland in terms of attitude and cities. &nbsp;You don't hear many Southern accents as you visit from town to town. &nbsp;Florida is much more commercial. &nbsp;From Disney World to Miami Beach, Tampa to Daytona, you've got a larger city feel. &nbsp;(I can't say much about the panhandle, though. &nbsp;I've never been there.) &nbsp;Florida is the place that Northerners come to vacation.<br /><br />There are two seasons in Florida: Hotter than Hell and Snowbird season. &nbsp;Hotter than Hell lasts from around April through about October. &nbsp;You'll want AC during this season. &nbsp;The heat may be great for getting your tan, but the humidity will make it feel like you're breathing in soup. &nbsp;I've never been much of a beach bum (despite living on the coast 2 of the 3 places I've lived), so I preferred going from my air conditioned house to my air conditioned car to my air conditioned job. &nbsp;You'll see a lot of families taking summer vacation or spring break. &nbsp;The biggest problems are the palmetto bugs (read: huge flying roaches). &nbsp;But traffic moves at a steady pace and there's definitely plenty to do. &nbsp;Oh, and Hotter than Hell is also known as hurricane season. &nbsp;Chances are, there'll be two or three hurricane watches and warnings for Florida within that time.<br /><br />Snowbird season goes from October until April. It's the season that drives a lot of year rounders 'round the bend. &nbsp;Because this is the time when the retired part-timers move down to get away from the cold of winter. &nbsp;And driving in Florida is a lot different than driving in smaller towns in the north. &nbsp;There are often slow downs and accidents that you need to be on the alert for. &nbsp;But the snowbirds coming to Florida is a great revenue booster for the state.<br /><br />As far as the people go... well, you get a mix. &nbsp;There are some that are friendly and neighborly, and many that kind of keep to themselves. &nbsp;You may have two dozen cars pass you by if you're stuck on the side of the road before one person will stop to see if they can help. &nbsp;Sometimes, not even that. &nbsp;But in the smaller areas, you'll probably have neighbors say hi if they see you in the yard.<br /><br />Tennessee is completely different. &nbsp;It's much more like the polite and courteous south that is fictionalized in books and movies. &nbsp;You hear a lot of 'please's, 'thank you's, 'yes, ma'ams's and 'no sir's' as you go around. &nbsp;You hear a lot of southern drawls here, some more exaggerated than others. &nbsp;Someone's a little more likely to stop and talk for a few minutes than they did when I lived in Florida. &nbsp;The community has a tendency to pull together through adversity. &nbsp;Almost 2 years ago, we had a really bad snow storm. &nbsp;My apartment complex was on a hill and the driveway out was solid snow and ice. &nbsp;Since it was on a weekend, the apartment complex didn't have anyone come out to plow it. &nbsp;Instead, residents were out there with anything they could use as a shovel, helping dig the driveway clear and pushing cars if they got stuck. &nbsp;I can't imagine that in the places that I lived in either Florida or the Northeast.<br /><br />It's not to say that they're always polite. &nbsp;Nashville has a horrid set of interchanges between the three interstates that come through here. &nbsp;To stay on the same road, you need to switch lanes three times through the city. &nbsp;And you have a lot of people switching lanes without signalling or refusing to back off a little to let you in during heavy traffic.<br /><br />There are a few things that are more&nbsp;prevalent&nbsp;in Tennessee than anywhere else I've lived. &nbsp;The first is Church. &nbsp;One of the first questions you may be asked upon meeting a new group of people is, "What church do you go to?" &nbsp;If you admit that you don't have a home church, you'll be invited to come along to theirs. &nbsp;But for all that church is important to most of the people I know, they don't shove it down your throat either. &nbsp;We got food from&nbsp;<a href="http://www.angelfoodministries.com/">Angel Food Ministries</a>&nbsp;at a local Baptist Church. &nbsp;They knew the boys and said hi every time. &nbsp;They open their Halloween Party and their Easter Egg Hunt to the community and never pushed for us to come to services. &nbsp;My boys go (or in Teddy's case, went) to a Parents Day Out program at a local Methodist church. They know that the boys are Catholic and don't try to convert us. &nbsp;They don't think less of me because of my religious views.<br /><br />The other is the food. &nbsp;While there is some cultural diversity when it comes to restaurants, you'll find a lot of&nbsp;<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meat_and_three">meat and three</a>&nbsp;restaurants. &nbsp;You'll find <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cornbread">cornbread</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sweet_tea">sweet tea</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biscuits_and_gravy">biscuits and gravy</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boiled_greens">greens</a>, fried catfish and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicken_fried_steak">chicken fried steak</a>. You can often find places with a different homemade dessert or three daily. &nbsp;One of my favorite places to eat here in Nashville is&nbsp;<a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ole-Dinner-Bell-Restaurant/117728198237322">The Ole Dinner Bell</a>. &nbsp;Good food, good prices and great staff.<br /><br />Somehow, Tennessee makes me feel more secure than other places I've lived. &nbsp;While I lock my door, I don't wonder if my things will still be there if I forget. &nbsp;I keep an eye on my kids outside, but more to makes sure they don't run in front of a car than because I'm worried about someone snatching them. &nbsp;I walk away from my bag in the local library without worrying that something may be taken. &nbsp;It's not naivety. I know that anything can happen. &nbsp;But there's such a good sense of community in the places I go to regularly that I can trust someone I know to stop anything bad from happening if my attention wanders for a moment.<br /><br />All in all, it's a great place to live. &nbsp;There are ups and downs, as with anywhere you may go, but most of the people will at least be friendly during the down times.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6169312327675576736-7374380747900175727?l=sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Amber DiTulliohttps://profiles.google.com/110383382274245312911noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6169312327675576736.post-90461778750656925082011-08-09T11:48:00.000-05:002011-08-09T11:48:07.380-05:00<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&amp;bc1=000000&amp;IS2=1&amp;bg1=FFFFFF&amp;fc1=000000&amp;lc1=0000FF&amp;t=sanitsover-20&amp;o=1&amp;p=8&amp;l=as4&amp;m=amazon&amp;f=ifr&amp;ref=ss_til&amp;asins=0373618611" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Harlequins are my guilty pleasure. &nbsp;They're quick reads, they're sexy as hell and, at least with the Intrigue and Nocturne labels, they've got some great plots that keep the characters in danger.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I picked up <i>Deja Vu</i>&nbsp;from the grocery store not too long ago because the synopsis sounded right up my alley. &nbsp;A woman believes that she is the reincarnation of a murdered woman - a woman murdered by a serial killer that preyed upon 12 women 30 years previously. &nbsp;She's gone into the FBI in large part to try to figure out who her killer was. &nbsp;And through her investigations, she meets a writer that has been writing fiction thrillers that exactly match the murders. &nbsp;Their connection is immediate but neither is sure if he was her husband, or her murdered.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">In a lot of ways, this reminded me of the film <i><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0101669/">Dead Again</a>. &nbsp;</i>Two people meet and form an instant connection. And that connection lies in a murder from the past. &nbsp;<i>Dead Again</i>&nbsp;is actually one of my favorite movies, so to find a book that had the same basic premise, but different enough to be it's own book, intrigued me. &nbsp;While I won't say that <i>Deja Vu</i>&nbsp;is a favorite.\, it was an enjoyable read. &nbsp;I suspected who the villain of the piece was before I reached the reveal at the end, but Childs still managed to have a few surprises by the end. &nbsp;Honestly, I would love to read another book in this world. &nbsp;There are definitely things that can be minded there and have interesting stories to tell.</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6169312327675576736-9046177875065692508?l=sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Amber DiTulliohttps://profiles.google.com/110383382274245312911noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6169312327675576736.post-53394966136632478232011-08-09T11:37:00.000-05:002011-08-09T11:37:24.701-05:00<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&amp;bc1=000000&amp;IS2=1&amp;bg1=FFFFFF&amp;fc1=000000&amp;lc1=0000FF&amp;t=sanitsover-20&amp;o=1&amp;p=8&amp;l=as4&amp;m=amazon&amp;f=ifr&amp;ref=ss_til&amp;asins=0758231997" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">As any long time readers of my blog, particularly my book reviews, knows, I have a horrible habit of picking up a book that's partway through a series rather than starting at the beginning. &nbsp;Sometimes it's on purpose - it may be the only book of a series I've heard a lot about, or maybe the back of that particular book intrigued me. &nbsp;And sometimes, it's purely accidental - I didn't realize that the book was part of a series, I accidentally grabbed the wrong one off the shelf. &nbsp;There are a million and two reasons why I may be starting in the middle of a series.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">With Richelle Mead's <i>Georgina Kincaid</i>&nbsp;series, it was purely a matter of me not paying attention. &nbsp;I requested the book on the library's website and thought I was requesting the first one. &nbsp;Nope. Requested the fourth.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">As a general rule, it's not too much of a problem for me to read a later book in the series before the earlier ones. &nbsp;As a matter of fact, there are times I find it really enjoyable, because the author will mention something that happened in previous books and it makes me want to go back and find out about it. &nbsp;That was definitely the case with <i>Succubus Heat</i>. &nbsp;Georgina Kincaid is an employee of Hell. &nbsp;A succubus, to be exact. &nbsp;It's her job to try to lure the good souls to Hell's side of the fence. &nbsp;The job isn't the best in the world, but she sold her soul, so now she's gotta work.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The series has a wonderful cast of characters, mortal, formerly mortal and immortal. &nbsp;By the fourth book, they're pretty well established with backstories (I believe) having been told in the previous books. &nbsp;In this particular one, Georgina is being sent a few hours away to help out another demon with a problem he's having in his territory. &nbsp;She's also supposed to find out if he's planning anything against her demon boss, Jerome. &nbsp;And when Jerome disappears, Georgina and her friends are the only ones anxious to find out what's happened to him.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">This book is a far cry from Mead's <i>Vampire Academy</i>&nbsp;series. &nbsp;It's a more mature read than<i>&nbsp;Vampire Academy</i>. &nbsp;I found the characters more engaging and more interesting to read. &nbsp;Like most books I pick up, it was a fairly quick read as well. &nbsp;I think I finished it in a night. &nbsp;And I now have the earlier books from the library so I can read them as well.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">If you're a fan of Kelley Armstrong's <i>Women of the Otherworld</i>, I think this series will be up your alley. &nbsp;Very sexy, very interesting and there's a rich world of supernatural beings. &nbsp;I can't wait to read more.</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6169312327675576736-5339496613663247823?l=sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Amber DiTulliohttps://profiles.google.com/110383382274245312911noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6169312327675576736.post-57313941439559838922011-08-09T10:28:00.000-05:002011-08-09T10:28:23.390-05:00<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&amp;bc1=000000&amp;IS2=1&amp;bg1=FFFFFF&amp;fc1=000000&amp;lc1=0000FF&amp;t=sanitsover-20&amp;o=1&amp;p=8&amp;l=as4&amp;m=amazon&amp;f=ifr&amp;ref=ss_til&amp;asins=0553588389" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Made to Be Broken</i>&nbsp;is a re-read for me. &nbsp;It's the second book in her <i>Nadia Stafford</i> series. &nbsp;Unlike her&nbsp;<i>Women of the Otherworld </i>and <i>Darkest Powers</i>&nbsp;series', there's nothing supernatural going on in Nadia's world. &nbsp;She does lead an interesting life, though. &nbsp;Having to leave the police force after killing a suspect (with some question on whether it was accidental or on purpose), she takes her settlement money and buys a vacationers lodge outside of Petersborough, Ontario, Canada. &nbsp;Business is okay - some seasons better than others - but it isn't quite enough to keep the Lodge running. &nbsp;To supplement the income from the lodge, she takes jobs for a crime family in New York. &nbsp;Yep. She's a hitman.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The first book (<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0553588192/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=sanitsover-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=217145&amp;creative=399369&amp;creativeASIN=0553588192"><i>Exit Strategy</i></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=&amp;l=as2&amp;o=1&amp;a=0553588192&amp;camp=217145&amp;creative=399369" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />) does a good job of introducing the characters and Nadia's background while she teams with her mentor (a man named Jack) and several other people in the business (including a sexy US Marshall/hitman that is interested in Nadia) to take down a hitman that's turned into a serial killer. &nbsp;<i>Made to Be Broken </i>begins several months after they finished taking down the serial killer. &nbsp;And this time, Jack and Quinn (the US Marshall) are helping Nadia with a problem closer to home.<br /><br />When her Sammi, the teen mother that Nadia hired to try to help the girl out, disappears with her baby, Destiny, Nadia refuses to believe what everyone else in town is saying - that Sammi just took off with Destiny. &nbsp;With Jack and Quinn's help, she finds that Sammi and Destiny aren't the first teen-mom and child pair that have disappeared. &nbsp;What they uncover is enough to make Nadia's blood boil.<br /><br />This is a fairly quick read, and quite enjoyable if you like ladies with guns. &nbsp;I have to say that, the first time I read it, I never guessed what the ending would be. &nbsp;It is one of those things that completely caught me off guard. &nbsp;I don't want to tell too much, because I don't want to spoil it for anyone. &nbsp;But if you're a fan of Kelley Armstrong's writing in her other series, I think you'll enjoy this as well. &nbsp;Just don't go into it thinking that it's a supernatural book, and I don't think you'll be disappointed.</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6169312327675576736-5731394143955983892?l=sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Amber DiTulliohttps://profiles.google.com/110383382274245312911noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6169312327675576736.post-68299868560967454432011-08-08T20:59:00.000-05:002011-08-08T20:59:46.257-05:00<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">We had a meltdown moment at bedtime with Pete. &nbsp;He wanted to bring one of Teddy's Pokemon Mangas (from the library) to bed with him and we told him no. &nbsp;He got so upset with us that he told us he didn't want Mommy or Daddy covering him and he didn't want any kisses.<br /><br />"Ok, baby," I told him. &nbsp;"If you don't want us to cover you and give you hugs and kisses, that's ok. We understand. &nbsp;But I am a little sad without my kisses."<br /><br />I gave Teddy his kisses and as I was straightening up, Peter said, "I do want cover with bun bo (Spongebob) and huds and tisses. Mommy, cover me?" &nbsp;So I went up, covered him and gave him his kisses. &nbsp;Didn't make a big deal about it or anything else.<br /><br />It's a big deal for me because today had been a stressful day on a lot of levels. &nbsp;And usually when things are stressful, I'll have a much shorter temper. And that has a tendency to make me snappish when the kids give me a hard time about things. &nbsp;But tonight, it just seemed natural to let Pete make the decision on what he wanted when it comes to bedtime.</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">I need to keep remembering this. &nbsp;I need to remind myself that anger never works and, usually, if I give the kids a chance to calm down a bit, they'll come around to my way of thinking. &nbsp;And that sometimes, I don't need them to see things my way.</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">You'd think that after 5 years, I'd have learned this. &nbsp;But I guess I'm still learning too.</span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6169312327675576736-6829986856096745443?l=sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Amber DiTulliohttps://profiles.google.com/110383382274245312911noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6169312327675576736.post-88561012547959873742011-08-08T19:42:00.000-05:002011-08-08T19:42:40.646-05:00A miracle has happened. &nbsp;I actually found a picture of myself that I like. &nbsp;It shows off my new haircut pretty well.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pBAtdMYENxU/TkB8H0a2cNI/AAAAAAAACzw/WCVzQldedSQ/s1600/DSCN0354.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pBAtdMYENxU/TkB8H0a2cNI/AAAAAAAACzw/WCVzQldedSQ/s400/DSCN0354.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Can't see the color, but you can see the cut.</td></tr> </tbody></table><br /><br />Of course, I'm not the only one who had good pictures taken. &nbsp;Teddy and Pete are looking pretty good too.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Gs0eE16Rwmk/TkCBONoBwkI/AAAAAAAAC2M/uznG4bb_E64/s1600/DSCN0333.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Gs0eE16Rwmk/TkCBONoBwkI/AAAAAAAAC2M/uznG4bb_E64/s320/DSCN0333.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yeah, he knows how cute he is.<br /><br /></td></tr> </tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bIA6gCt2QNE/TkCBNVfpdrI/AAAAAAAAC2Y/jBlGyN_BowI/s1600/DSCN0332.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bIA6gCt2QNE/TkCBNVfpdrI/AAAAAAAAC2Y/jBlGyN_BowI/s320/DSCN0332.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not one of his better pictures, but you can tell it's a bit shorter.</td></tr> </tbody></table><br /><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6169312327675576736-8856101254795987374?l=sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Amber DiTulliohttps://profiles.google.com/110383382274245312911noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6169312327675576736.post-18342567895287610592011-08-08T18:42:00.000-05:002011-08-08T18:42:58.054-05:00The first time I came to Nashville was at the end of April, 2005. &nbsp;Rich had been awarded his PhD in Molecular Biology earlier in the year and now was the time for us to start looking for a place for Rich to do his post-doctoral fellowship. &nbsp;We may have been able to stay in Philadelphia. &nbsp;We wouldn't have had to move, his family would have been nearby, I would have still had my job... But we were planning to move back to Philadelphia some day and it's easier to get a lab if you've done your post-doc somewhere out of the city. &nbsp;We looked at places somewhat nearby - Baltimore, Boston, NYC - as well as some places a little further out -Minneapolis, Atlanta, Nashville. &nbsp;Two of the places that he sent his CV to asked for an interview. &nbsp;We went to Minnesota first and... it was ok, but I don't think it would have been the job Rich would have wanted.<br /><br />When he got the call from the person in Nashville, Rich was pretty excited. &nbsp;Not only was the PI (primary investigator, the person in charge of the lab) someone Rich was familiar with from his own research, but his best friend was getting his doctorate at Vanderbilt as well. &nbsp;So Rich and I flew down to Nashville together - Rich's paid for by the PI and us paying for mine. &nbsp;We were put up in the Holiday Inn close to Vandy's campus, a nice enough hotel within walking distance of the campus. And across the street was&nbsp;<a href="http://www.nashville.gov/parks/locations/centennial/">Centennial Park</a>, which also houses&nbsp;<a href="http://www.nashville.gov/parthenon/">the Parthenon</a>. It was nice having one of our first views of Nashville being such a famous place.<br /><br />Rich had a day or two of interviews, during which I was able to keep myself amused. &nbsp;I walked around Vandy's campus, took in some of the businesses near by and just had a great time. &nbsp;Everyone that I met was incredibly friendly. &nbsp;And, best of all, I was able to have one of my favorite breakfast dishes, Biscuits and Sausage Gravy. They just don't make it in the northeast and I'd been wanting some so badly. &nbsp;I was also able to introduce Rich to sweet tea. &nbsp;I'm convinced that became one of the reasons he liked Nashville.<br /><br />I did get to have breakfast with him and his PI the first morning, and dinner at a local micro-brewery,&nbsp;<a href="http://www.boscosbeer.com/">Boscos</a>. &nbsp;We had dinner with the PI and one of the guys that was already in the lab. &nbsp;I got a chance to try some good beer and have some seared tuna. &nbsp;I knew that, if Rich got this job, Boscos would be a place I'd want to go to regularly.<br /><br />We'd taken a few days after the interviews to spend time with his best friend and his fiancee. &nbsp;They showed us around Nashville. &nbsp;We went to&nbsp;<a href="http://www.gaylordhotels.com/gaylord-opryland/">Gaylord Opryland</a>, had dinner at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.cicispizza.com/_template.php">Cici's Pizza</a>, had lunch at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.calypsocafe.com/home.htm">Calypso Cafe</a>, saw each of their labs at Vandy... just a good time together.<br /><br />The day before we left, we decided to check out Centennial Park. &nbsp;They were having a large craft fair and it was nice to just walk around and check out things. &nbsp;Having had suitcases that needed to be brought home was the main thing that kept me from buying a bunch of things. It was great taking that weekend to get a feel for, what we found out a few later, would be our new home.<br /><br />We've been here for 6 years now. &nbsp;We've explored a lot more of Nashville than we had that first weekend, though there's still so much more to go. &nbsp;Rich is no longer working in labs, having found that being a research scientist isn't quite what he wanted to do. &nbsp;But he has found a new career as a&nbsp;<a href="http://www.absa.org/biosafety.html">Biosafety Officer</a>, and it's one that he really enjoys. &nbsp;There's a very real possibility that we won't end up back in the northeast any time soon. Rich is going to have several more years in this job before he can seriously look toward a higher level position at another university. &nbsp;But that's okay. &nbsp;Because we like Nashville. &nbsp;And the last six years have taught me that it's a place I don't mind raising my children and calling home<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6169312327675576736-1834256789528761059?l=sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Amber DiTulliohttps://profiles.google.com/110383382274245312911noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6169312327675576736.post-16325558901433012652011-08-08T16:37:00.000-05:002011-08-08T16:37:02.562-05:00It's time for day 12 of&nbsp;<a href="http://sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com/2011/03/starting-another-blog-challenge.html">The List Challenge</a>. &nbsp;And the list for today is:<br /><br /><b><u>Things You Want Your Children to Know About You</u></b><br /><b><u><br /></u></b><br /><br /><ul><li>I love to sing.</li> <li>I love to write.</li> <li>I love to read.</li> <li>I met their father online. We were friends for a year before we started dating.</li> <li>I love them very much.</li> <li>I'm not perfect. &nbsp;I've made a lot of mistakes.</li> <li>I could have been valedictorian if I'd stayed at my school in Downsville, but I still think the move to Florida was a better choice for me. &nbsp;I learned more there than I would have if I stayed in NY.</li> <li>I spent a lot of my summers playing with my cousins down at my grandparents. &nbsp;They lived in the valley right below us and had a lot of land. &nbsp;We were outside almost every day.</li> <li>When I was a kid, I wanted to be a teacher.</li> <li>I started role-playing when I was in college . I stopped playing for several years and started back up right before I met their father.</li> <li>I'm trying hard to make myself a better person, for them and for me.</li> </ul><br /><br /><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6169312327675576736-1632555890143301265?l=sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Amber DiTulliohttps://profiles.google.com/110383382274245312911noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6169312327675576736.post-13664653283568466872011-08-08T16:15:00.000-05:002011-08-08T16:15:54.614-05:00<a href="http://sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com/2011/07/30-day-book-challenge-challenge.html">Day 01 – The best book you read this year</a><br /><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com/2011/08/30-day-book-challenge-day-2.html">Day 02 – A book that you’ve read more than 3 times</a></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com/2011/08/30-day-book-challenge-day-3.html">Day 03 – Your favorite series</a></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com/2011/08/30-day-book-challenge-day-4.html">Day 04 – Favorite book of your favorite series</a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com/2011/08/30-day-book-challenge-day-5.html">Day 05 – A book that makes you happy</a></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com/2011/08/day-01-best-book-you-read-this-year-day.html">Day 06 – A book that makes you sad</a></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com/2011/08/30-day-book-challenge-day-7.html">Day 07 – Most underrated book</a></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 08 – Most overrated book<br /><br /><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&amp;bc1=000000&amp;IS2=1&amp;bg1=FFFFFF&amp;fc1=000000&amp;lc1=0000FF&amp;t=sanitsover-20&amp;o=1&amp;p=8&amp;l=as4&amp;m=amazon&amp;f=ifr&amp;ref=ss_til&amp;asins=0156035219" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe><br /><br />This actually a book that I really wanted to like but couldn't. &nbsp;I love the movie. &nbsp;It's one of my favorites. &nbsp;But the book.... I read it and... I just couldn't enjoy it. &nbsp;I <i>tried</i>&nbsp;to enjoy it. &nbsp;I really did. &nbsp;But something about it just didn't connect with me. &nbsp;It's one of the few books that my husband and I disagree on.<br /><br /></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 09 – A book you thought you wouldn’t like but ended up loving</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 10 – Favorite classic book</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 11 – A book you hated</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 12 – A book you used to love but don’t anymore</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 13 – Your favorite writer</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 14 – Book from your favorite writer</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 15 – Favorite male character</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 16 – Favorite female character</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 17 – Favorite quote</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 18: First “chapter book” you can remember reading as a child</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 19 – Favorite book turned into a movie</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 20 - Book that makes you laugh out loud</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 21 – Favorite book from your childhood</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 22 - Book you’re currently reading</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 23 – Your guilty pleasure</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 24 – A book that you wish more people would’ve read</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 25 - Favorite book you read in school</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 26 – A book that changed your opinion about something</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 27 – The most surprising plot twist or ending</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 28 – Favorite title</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 29 – A book everyone hated but you liked</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 30 - Favorite book</div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6169312327675576736-1366465328356846687?l=sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Amber DiTulliohttps://profiles.google.com/110383382274245312911noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6169312327675576736.post-77306176522439971512011-08-08T15:54:00.000-05:002011-08-08T15:54:37.746-05:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lx0TmwlIDb4/Tjf6oQjvIOI/AAAAAAAACyk/RvWt208qA5k/s1600/10+day+challenge.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lx0TmwlIDb4/Tjf6oQjvIOI/AAAAAAAACyk/RvWt208qA5k/s1600/10+day+challenge.png" /></a></div>1. <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jessicafm/733953553/" title="Rocky Road Ice Cream by jessicafm, on Flickr"><img alt="Rocky Road Ice Cream" height="375" src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1109/733953553_6ca2246930.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />Rocky Road Ice Cream. &nbsp;My absolute favorite ice cream of all time. &nbsp;And Ice cream is probably one of my favorite foods. &nbsp;Gotta have it!<br /><br />2. <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/goraiapick/1812471776/" title="BON APPÉTIT MS ZEETZ JONES! by ™ goraiapick ™, on Flickr"><img alt="BON APPÉTIT MS ZEETZ JONES!" height="454" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2189/1812471776_7fbed8be0b.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />An ex-boyfriend introduced me to sushi, and I've never gone back. &nbsp;Which is weird, because I don't like cooked fish. &nbsp;But one of my favorite places to go for a good meal is a sushi restaurant. &nbsp;Favorite sushi? &nbsp;Tamago. (Cooked egg. &nbsp;Yeah, I know. &nbsp;Not raw fish. &nbsp;But it's so yummy!)<br /><br />3. <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/arndog/1452183686/" title="Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup by arnold | inuyaki, on Flickr"><img alt="Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup" height="375" src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1225/1452183686_902b47199e.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />Tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches are my comfort food. &nbsp;Whenever I'm feeling down or having a bad day, I can make myself a bowl of cream of tomato soup and a grilled cheese sandwich, and life gets a little bit better. &nbsp;I think it's because it was a staple of my diet when I was growing up, so it always brings me back to the safety of childhood.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.fishex.com/recipes/scallops/scallops.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="241" src="http://www.fishex.com/recipes/scallops/scallops.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From&nbsp;<a href="http://www.fishex.com/recipes/scallops/scallop-cooking-tips.html">Google Image Search</a></td></tr> </tbody></table>4. Scallops have to be my favorite seafood. &nbsp;I love them broiled with a little garlic butter. &nbsp;Just... mmmmm....<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.united-nations-of-beer.com/images/guinness-beer-21353590.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.united-nations-of-beer.com/images/guinness-beer-21353590.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From&nbsp;<a href="http://www.united-nations-of-beer.com/guinness-beer.html">Google Image Search</a></td></tr> </tbody></table>5. Ok. &nbsp;So Guinness isn't technically food. &nbsp;But it's still one of my favorites. &nbsp;Whether it's put into a recipe (like&nbsp;<a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/beef-and-guinness-stew-recipe/index.html)">Guinness Stew</a>&nbsp;or&nbsp;<a href="http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Guinness-Stout-Ice-Cream-12538">Guinness Ice Cream</a>) or just as a nice pint, I could enjoy something Guinness daily.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6169312327675576736-7730617652243997151?l=sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Amber DiTulliohttps://profiles.google.com/110383382274245312911noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6169312327675576736.post-45927277067617424562011-08-07T10:01:00.000-05:002011-08-07T10:01:24.208-05:00Still continuing with&nbsp;<a href="http://sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com/2011/03/starting-another-blog-challenge.html">The List Challenge</a>. &nbsp;Today's list is:<br /><br /><b><u>Acts of Kindness You've Committed</u></b><br /><b><u><br /></u></b><br /><br /><ul><li>Watched friends' children when they had an emergency come up</li><li>Paid for the drink of the person behind me in Starbucks, just because I could</li><li>Bought&nbsp;<a href="http://thecontributor.org/main/">The Contributor</a>&nbsp;to help the homeless</li><li>Lent my car to my sister-in-law for long trips</li><li>Drove to Florida to pick up my parents' stuff</li><li>Paid for friends' meals when they didn't have the money to do so</li></ul><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6169312327675576736-4592727706761742456?l=sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Amber DiTulliohttps://profiles.google.com/110383382274245312911noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6169312327675576736.post-44698638284892989832011-08-07T09:56:00.000-05:002011-08-07T09:56:05.325-05:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lx0TmwlIDb4/Tjf6oQjvIOI/AAAAAAAACyk/RvWt208qA5k/s1600/10+day+challenge.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lx0TmwlIDb4/Tjf6oQjvIOI/AAAAAAAACyk/RvWt208qA5k/s1600/10+day+challenge.png" /></a></div><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/7652577@N05/3557257826/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Downsville Covered Bridge by rchrdcnnnghm, on Flickr"><img alt="Downsville Covered Bridge" height="375" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3654/3557257826_0e79d8790a.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Downsville Covered Bridge, Downsville, NY</td></tr></tbody></table>1. <br />Downsville, NY. &nbsp;This is the town I lived in until I was 15. &nbsp;It's a small town, with the good and the bad that it brings. &nbsp;While I don't know if I could ever live there again, I do love to come home for visits.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://pics4.city-data.com/cpicc/cfiles43047.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://pics4.city-data.com/cpicc/cfiles43047.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From&nbsp;<a href="http://www.city-data.com/picfilesc/picc43047.php">Google Image Search</a></td></tr></tbody></table>2. I moved to North Port, FL after I left Downsville at 15. &nbsp;It was a bit bigger town than I grew up in, but it wasn't huge. &nbsp;We didn't even have our own middle school or high school while I was there. &nbsp;It's grown a lot since my days there, though.<br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.e-architect.co.uk/images/jpgs/america/annie_pfeiffer_chapel_sgla050509_fsc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://www.e-architect.co.uk/images/jpgs/america/annie_pfeiffer_chapel_sgla050509_fsc.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From&nbsp;<a href="http://www.e-architect.co.uk/america/child_of_the_sun_florida.htm">Google Image Search</a></td></tr></tbody></table>3. I went to college in Lakeland, FL. &nbsp;<a href="http://www.flsouthern.edu/">Florida Southern College</a>, to be exact. &nbsp;Lakeland was the perfect place for me - a little bigger than North Port, but not huge. &nbsp;I spent most of my time on campus (and a beautiful campus it is), but there were a lot of fun places in town as well. &nbsp;I still remember fondly the late nights at Steak-n-Shake or Denny's.<div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://wwp.greenwichmeantime.com/time-zone/usa/new-york/new-york-city/images/new-york-city.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://wwp.greenwichmeantime.com/time-zone/usa/new-york/new-york-city/images/new-york-city.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From&nbsp;<a href="http://wwp.greenwichmeantime.com/time-zone/usa/new-york/new-york-city/">Google Image Search</a></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div>4. I moved to NY for a guy. &nbsp;But I loved the city for what it was. &nbsp;There was so much to do and so much to see. &nbsp;I found gaming shops and comic shops on little side streets, places to eat that seemed like hidden gems. &nbsp;And home was just a train ride away. &nbsp;It could be a rough town, but it could also be a caring town. &nbsp;I was in NY on 9/11 and, while it was one of the scariest times in my life, it was also one of the most uplifting. &nbsp;I saw people trying to help one another, whether it was letting them use a cellphone or giving them some of their water. &nbsp;I was proud to be a New Yorker then.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.metafever.com/wp-content/uploads/Philadelphia-skyline-300x225.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.metafever.com/wp-content/uploads/Philadelphia-skyline-300x225.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From&nbsp;<a href="http://www.metafever.com/philadelphia-seo">Google Image Search</a></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>5. Philly is the town that my husband grew up in. &nbsp;Or, close enough anyway. &nbsp;It doesn't have the same hectic feel as New York, yet it still has that feeling having having been there forever. &nbsp;I loved going to different museums (and if you're ever in Philly, check out the&nbsp;<a href="http://www2.fi.edu/">Franklin Institute</a>, finding a variety of eating and drinking establishments and having so many forms of public transportation near by. &nbsp;It was a great place to live before and after we got married.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zmzspbTghis/TZilJ6O7UtI/AAAAAAAACDc/-Y1LVMubxWE/s1600/DSCN2977.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zmzspbTghis/TZilJ6O7UtI/AAAAAAAACDc/-Y1LVMubxWE/s320/DSCN2977.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Teddy standing on the giant map of TN, right around where our apartment would have been.</td></tr></tbody></table><div>6. We've been in Nashville for 6 years now. &nbsp;And it's a place I wouldn't mind calling home. &nbsp;We have southern politeness, a feeling of community, places to explore and a great <a href="http://www.nashville.gov/greenways/">greenway&nbsp;system</a>&nbsp;perfect for walking around. &nbsp;There's still so much more to explore. &nbsp;I hope to be here for a long time yet.</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6169312327675576736-4469863828489298983?l=sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Amber DiTulliohttps://profiles.google.com/110383382274245312911noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6169312327675576736.post-41200319389427823252011-08-07T09:22:00.000-05:002011-08-07T09:22:56.240-05:00<a href="http://sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com/2011/07/30-day-book-challenge-challenge.html">Day 01 – The best book you read this year</a><br /><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com/2011/08/30-day-book-challenge-day-2.html">Day 02 – A book that you’ve read more than 3 times</a></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com/2011/08/30-day-book-challenge-day-3.html">Day 03 – Your favorite series</a></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com/2011/08/30-day-book-challenge-day-4.html">Day 04 – Favorite book of your favorite series</a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com/2011/08/30-day-book-challenge-day-5.html">Day 05 – A book that makes you happy</a></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com/2011/08/day-01-best-book-you-read-this-year-day.html">Day 06 – A book that makes you sad</a></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 07 – Most underrated book<br /><br /><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&amp;bc1=000000&amp;IS2=1&amp;bg1=FFFFFF&amp;fc1=000000&amp;lc1=0000FF&amp;t=sanitsover-20&amp;o=1&amp;p=8&amp;l=as4&amp;m=amazon&amp;f=ifr&amp;ref=ss_til&amp;asins=1551661594" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe><br /><br />I got this book as a freebie from Harlequin one of the times I subscribed to their book service. &nbsp;And I loved it. &nbsp;It is the story of two unlikely friends - a Hollywood star and an ambitious boy from Idaho. &nbsp;They meet at Sun Valley Ski Resort in 1936. &nbsp;Wade (the star) is visiting and Jude is working their. &nbsp;Their unlikely friendship follows them through success and failure, joy and heartbreak. &nbsp;It is one of the few books that, when I finished it, I immediately flipped back to the front and started it again.<br /><br /><br /></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 08 – Most overrated book</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 09 – A book you thought you wouldn’t like but ended up loving</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 10 – Favorite classic book</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 11 – A book you hated</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 12 – A book you used to love but don’t anymore</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 13 – Your favorite writer</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 14 – Book from your favorite writer</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 15 – Favorite male character</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 16 – Favorite female character</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 17 – Favorite quote</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 18: First “chapter book” you can remember reading as a child</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 19 – Favorite book turned into a movie</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 20 - Book that makes you laugh out loud</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 21 – Favorite book from your childhood</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 22 - Book you’re currently reading</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 23 – Your guilty pleasure</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 24 – A book that you wish more people would’ve read</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 25 - Favorite book you read in school</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 26 – A book that changed your opinion about something</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 27 – The most surprising plot twist or ending</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 28 – Favorite title</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 29 – A book everyone hated but you liked</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Day 30 - Favorite book</div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6169312327675576736-4120031938942782325?l=sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Amber DiTulliohttps://profiles.google.com/110383382274245312911noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6169312327675576736.post-42365468459620891382011-08-07T08:32:00.000-05:002011-08-07T08:32:19.706-05:00I may eventually catch up with blog prompts, but I'm not going to stress about it right now. &nbsp;However, I am going to write about the next prompt right now.<br /><br /><blockquote><i>"I stand up against online bullying. My blog is my space. I will not tolerate comments that are rude, condescending or disrespectful." </i><b>Have you experienced this on your blog? If so did you follow the principles of The Pledge? What was the result? If you have not experienced it personally, have you seen it on other blogs? How was it handled, and what was the result?</b></blockquote>As I've mentioned&nbsp;<a href="http://sanitysoverrated.blogspot.com/2011/08/talking-again-about-mom-pledge.html">before</a>, I've been lucky enough to not have to deal with bullies, either on this blog or anywhere that I've visited. &nbsp;I hope it never happens. &nbsp;But I'm not quite so idealistic to know that will be the case.<br /><br />I think we all have plans regarding how we'll react in a certain situation. "If someone puts down me or my child, I'm just going to walk away.", "If my child has a problem with another student in school, I'm going to try to let them resolve it first." &nbsp;But, as the old saying goes, no plan survives contact with the enemy. &nbsp;That applies&nbsp;militarily and socially.<br /><br />But I think being online gives me an advantage in how I deal with things. &nbsp;In face to face situations, I have a tendency to freeze up. &nbsp;The witty come-backs that I know are in there somewhere leave my head, only to return when the situation is long gone. &nbsp;The tears start to well in my eyes, and the need for acceptance plows past reason. &nbsp;In short, I'm not good with negativity when I have to deal with it immediately.<br /><br />Online gives me the chance to step back and deal with things more rationally. My gut reaction usually involves either abject apology or extreme anger. &nbsp;And I end up saying things that I regret. &nbsp;So I've tried to get into the habit of stepping back until I can be calm enough to reply. &nbsp;Sometimes on a reread, I find that an outside influence has colored how I read things and the writer wasn't trying for snark. &nbsp;But that's not always the case. &nbsp;Sometimes people are just being mean. &nbsp;And that's when I need to step in.<br /><br />I don't want to immediately delete or ban someone (though I will agree that there are no absolutes - if someone is spilling&nbsp;vitriol&nbsp;with every word, all bets are off). &nbsp;I hope that, should this time ever come, I'll be able to clarify that I'm reading correctly. &nbsp;I'll give them a warning that I will delete further vicious comments. &nbsp;Only then will I delete comments and ban the person from my bl