Feelin' a Little Like Stretch Armstrong...Without the Stretch

Yup, that's me, well at least that's the BitStrip me.  (I do pretty much look like that, give or take a few pounds, and yes, my hair is lighter than my profile pic.)  Anyway, this cartoon in particular called out to me yesterday because this is how I've been feeling lately.

I suppose it would be more accurate if I were drawn with a few more arms, but I'll just go with two and the two directions pulling the hardest.

One one side is my mother. At 94 she is doing well, physically, but she doesn't think so. Of course she has slowed down considerably and she's not nearly as spry as she once was, but then that's to be expected.  The problem is that she has dementia. It is so difficult to watch a loved one struggle with this; the confusion, the paranoia, the time slips, and losing them bit by bit every day.  I help her as much as I can, but it's never enough, or at least that's how I feel. Plus I feel utterly useless a good portion of the time. I can't force her to remember what just is not there and I cannot control her moods. I just do what I can do.

Then there's the other side, pulling just as hard for my attention, but just not aware he's doing it; my lovebug, my Little Man.  He has ADHD and needs just a wee bit of help staying focused on the task at hand. I love him just the way he is, with all his quirks and goofiness, but when it's time to get down to business, I know if I'm not there, in the same room with him, the work won't get done. (And don't even let me get started on the whole school thing. That's a post all to itself.)

So, you see my dilemma? My mother or my child. How can one chose one over the other? So, I go back and forth between the two; trying to give each of them the attention they want and need, but always feeling like it's never enough.

I sure could use a clone right about now.

Food For Thought

Warm and Snuggly

I love Fall; the colors of the leaves, the briskness in the air, pulling the sweaters and warmies (hats, gloves, scarves, and leg warmers) out of storage. So I thought I'd share of few of my favorite warmies with you. If you're in a cooler climate, I hope these help take the chill away, and if your idea of cold is grabbing a sweatshirt, sit back and enjoy, just the same. You never know when you may be visiting one of your chilly buddies.

AddSomeStitches, pixiebell, threemagicsheep

ArlenesBoutique, passionknits, Periay

JustColor, LaimaShop, yastikizi

CloudberryFactory, jewellerybijou, mademoisellemermaid

Promotion Commotion

Last Tuesday I decided to offer my facebook page to other small business owners to promote themselves. I would like to make this a regular feature on mt page. So, here's the post for today. If you'd like to participate, comment below the post. Like and share to get more views. Today, my wall is your wall. (Please, family friendly items and comments only.)
Go to my facebook page to join in.  See you there!

Post by TheGoodOleDays.

Girl! Where have you been?

Yes, I've been away. No sugar coating it. I was doing so well with this blog and then Summer happened. I didn't realize how busy it gets here. All I did was work. Living at the beach is not nearly as glamorous as I had thought it would be. (What happened to my deep, dark tan and my moonlit strolls on the beach with my husband? Where did my fancy drink with the little umbrella go? Why did my husband and I feel like two ships passing in the night?) And then Summer ended, all the vacationers went back home and pretty much took our jobs with them, mine included. What do you write in a blog when you have no job and no money that doesn't sound like a poor me pity party?

Things haven't changed much. Still no job and not much money, but my outlook is not quite so doom and gloomy.  I see this as just the way things are meant to be right now.  My mother, who has dementia, needs my help more and more, and my son, who has ADHD, continues to need that little nudge to get his homework done and stay out of trouble.

So, with these things in mind, along with the lack of daytime work available, I have a renewed determination to work on my Etsy shop and make it successful.  I have been working on my pictures and I have added a new line of checkbook covers to my selection.  Before I ran out of money from my Summer job I got the things I needed to finally start using my Serger and I updated my business cards, since I have lived in a different state for over a year now.  Unfortunately, craft shows just are not going to happen for me this year, so the focus is on the online business.

Just a few days ago I got my own domain name and am currently shopping around for a web hosting site so I can expand my reach.

I do apologize for not being here. I missed it, but I did not want this to be a downer, and that's just what would have happened. So I am back, my batteries are recharged, and I'm good to go.

The ABCs of Life...J is for Jewelry

I know I have a tendency to write heavy, heartfelt posts, but there are occasions when lighthearted and fun will do nicely. Today is one of those days. I had a few other choice words come to mind, but I decided I'd like to share some of my favorite Etsy jewelry.

First up, I present jewelry for the ears, and before I go any further, let me tell you how hard it was to pick just four of any of the categories. There are so many talented Etsians and there is such diversity. This was really a difficult choice, because they're all my favorites.

                    Black Lace Cat Earrings             Lampwork Beach Earrings

                   Round Denim Earrings           Red and Black Full Moon Earrings

Next up, jewelry for the fingers.

       14k Gold Swiss Blue Topaz Ring        Double Rainbow Moonstone Ring

       Lacerta Heart Ring        Art Deco Champagne Diamond Ring

Next is jewelry for the arm. This, I think was the hardest to chose from, simply because of how many favorites I have. Honestly, I want them all. I just love jangly, bangle bracelets.

          Purple Floral Charm Bracelet     Chainmaille Bracelet   

          EcoFriendly Seed Bead Bracelet      Multi Bead Cluster Bracelet

And lastly, I share some of my favorite jewelry for the neck.

          Bead Market Lariat     Chainmaille Choker

     Goldstone Crochet Wire Choker     Lavendar Crochet Beach Necklace

Perhaps you see some items you have already discovered. Perhaps you have found some new loves. Either way, I hope you have enjoyed this little stroll through a tiny piece of my personality.

Just curious, which piece of jewelry is your favorite? Can you even pick just one?

Come on, Get Back Up

Day after day, we juggle our schedules, finances, priorities, and responsibilities to do what needs to get done, just to do it all over again the next day. Some days it may seem extra hard to get going. You may have a "why bother?" attitude. I feel your pain. I've been there myself. I'm sure we've all been there. If you're a small business owner you know it's all on you, even if it's a notoriously slow time of the year. If you're a single parent you may feel overwhelmed and exhausted from doing it all alone for so long. If you're overworked and under-payed or out of work altogether, you know how hard it is to make ends meet day in and day out.

This is your day. This one's for you. You can do this. You got this. You are a fighter. You are a winner.

It's not how how many times you get knocked down; it's how many times you get back up. General George Custer

Now get back up and get back on your horse. You've got a day to get through!

94 Years Is A Very Long Time

My mother has been on this Earth for 94 years. She started her journey way back in 1919. That is a very long time and so very much has happened in the expanse of her lifetime.  I know, because she has filled my life with her memories, and no matter how many times she tells the same story over and over, somehow I never tire of them, especially the ones of her childhood. I can only imagine what a great time that must have been.

The grand Cardeza Estate

The photo above was the home of Charlotte Drake Cardeza, who was a very rich woman, and who also happened to be a survivor of the Titanic.  This grand estate took up a whole city block and my mother told me how all the neighbors would come outside and watch as the massive gates would swing open and Mrs. Cardeza and her maid would slowly drive by in their motor car, the first one in the whole neighborhood.

Just recently my mother asked me if it was still there. My husband and I drove all over looking for it, but no such luck.  Not too long ago I found out it was turned into a parking lot. I don't think I'll tell her.

Construction of Germantown High School, 1915

This is Germantown High School. My mother graduated from there in 1937.  It's one of the oldest high schools in the country, yet today, due to budget cuts, ABC news announced it will be closing at the end of the year. I don't think I'll tell her this, either.

Waiting to buy a house, Levittown, PA, 1953

In 1954, with a growing family, my parents put $100 down on the purchase of one the first homes in Levittown. Our home was a Jubilee, with four bedrooms and two baths at a whopping $1100.

So much has changed in my mother's lifetime. She remembers when telephones were first installed, the undertaker who carried both of her grandparents out of her childhood home in a wicker basket, the ice man, her mother getting her hand caught in the wringer-washing machine, the Depression, World War II and so many of her classmates who never returned home, piling as many boy scouts as would fit into her station wagon to go on camping trips, and on and on...

If I happen to be blessed with a long life I can hardly imagine the changes that I will see.  Will I be overwhelmed and long for the "good ole days?" Pretty sure I will. I already do.

The ABCs of Life...The Most Powerful Two-Letter Word

If

I've been thinking about my life lately; the choices I've made, where I am, where I want to be, and what's keeping me from getting there.  I'm sure we've all been there at one time or another. What if they don't like me? What if I don't get the job? What if I'm no good at it (whatever that "it" may be)?  What if I fail? What if, what if, what if...

In the cult classic movie, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Janet finds herself in quite a predicament after a series of events and possible bad choices...
     Oh, if only we hadn't made this journey.  (But we did.)
     Oh, if only the car hadn't broke down. (But it did.)
     If only we were amongst friends, or sane persons. (But you're not.)

Life is full of choices. And, I believe, the choices we make direct our path. (I'm not even going to go into the debate on free will versus a Divine Plan. There just isn't enough space or time to get into that heated discussion.)

There are so many what ifs surrounding my life, but alas, I don't have a tardis or any other type of time machine, so I can not change the choices I have made or how my life has turned out thus far.  I cannot go back and make the "right" choice as to my college education or career path. I cannot make the "right" choice about people in my life. I cannot go back and make the right choice about what to do with all the money I ever earned and spent. And I cannot go back and chose the right numbers for the massive lottery which would magically fix all my problems. (No, I do not actually believe that one, either.)  I am fine with the choices I have made. They have made me the person I am today, for better or for worse. This is me, and i have to just accept it and move on.

The Tardis

 We will forever be bombarded with what ifs. The important thing is not be stricken with fear of making the wrong choice and, out of that fear, chose to do nothing.

The song, Freewill, by Rush always comes to mind when I think about this:
          If you chose not to decide, you still have made a choice
The difference here is that the choice has been made for you and not by you, or has it? (Heavy, eh?)

Fear of failure, fear of success, fear of the unknown; they all can strangle a person into inaction. Instead of asking, "What if?" ask yourself, "Why not?"  But whatever you chose, or don't chose, the worst possible thing would be to live with regret. It will destroy you like a virus.

From the movie, The Time Machine, the question answered.

Monday Mojo...Don't Worry, Be Happy

I did not post a Monday Mojo last week. Sorry for those of you who enjoy them. I just did not have the mojo and nothing popped into my head as inspiration. Some days are like that. Some weeks, too, for that matter.

Broken bones, crazy vacationers, money issues, dealing with dementia, itchy little fur babies. I've got plenty of things to be worried about, but today I'm going the route of mood guru, Bobby McFerrin, and I'm going to remind myself that life is good.

I woke up today, I am breathing on my own, everybody in my home has clothes to wear and food to eat, and I have a job. Life could be be better, no doubt about it, but it could be so much worse.

Find the things which make life great and be thankful for them...like whistling, and baby sloths.