How long can I ignore this blog anyway? I think it's been about 5 months now. I always think, "I should blog about this," but then I just don't feel like it when I have the opportunity.

So I'm up a little later than usual. I'm working on my site (which is another thing that is REALLY behind). I need a few extra hours per day. My site is experiencing an "extreme makeover." I used to use all neutral colors and had pictures of women who were smiling and contemplative. Well, I've scratched that for a brighter, crisper look. Now it uses bright oranges, blues, and greens. There are almost no pictures. It's quite a different look. Sometimes I wonder if I'm just biding my time since I don't want to have to do any actual thinking about adding more pages. But, I do think this was needed to stay competitive.

I did really well on WW today. I think I went over by 1.5 points. This is a big deal for me. Every morning I wake up and make the decision to throw in the towel on it, and then by midday, I talk myself back onto the plan. Sigh. My dear husband poured me a large shot of Bailey's a little bit ago, and it's still sitting here. I told him that I don't have the points for it (which is true), but really, I just don't want to feed into his drinking issues and muddy the water. Every weekend for the past month (give or take) he's gone and gotten drunk again. I can't stand it, but I'm trying to love him anyway. Why he decides to drink when he knows he has a problem, I just don't get. Then again, I guess I do. It'd be the same with me and a plate of brownies. The only difference is that the brownies don't make me say and do weird things.

Oh well. I guess I should head to bed. I got 2 pages on my site actually completed! Yay! I've started a 3rd. Then the workbook part of the site will be complete. Yayay!

Allergies are awful. I wish I could rip my nose right off of my face it itches so badly.

Yesterday was Memorial Day, and our family did what millions of other families seem to do if they aren't camping: We went to Lowe's for some fixer-upper stuff. It was so funny to walk down the aisles there and see all the women with their husbands. It was like we all shared some strange camaraderie. We had all managed to get our husbands to the hardware store, and by gosh, something in our homes will be made better today! Some helped their husbands pick out paint, others doors. My daughter saw this couple loading 4 doors into the back of their truck and smartly exclaimed, "They're building a whole house mama!" The woman gave a big smile and said, "Yes, that's right!" I gave her the same knowing smile back. Congratulations on getting your husband moving, lady!

So what did my sweet HWMNBN agree to fix? We added some fencing to our backyard to seal off one small section. This way, my daughter and her dog can go anywhere on our property without fear of running off. We also fenced off an area on the side of our home where said doggie can go potty. Now we just have to convince him that this is a good idea. We also picked out perennials for the flower boxes in the front of the house. This is the first year I have been brave enough to bypass the safety of petunias. Instead, I planted all sorts of different flowers there: Alyssum,, Vinca, and Marigold to name a few. I'll add a picture of it soon. I also requested that my dear HWMNBN added more shelving in our bathroom, behind the toilet. We bought the shelves, put them in the bathroom, and after the fencing was installed, my hunny informed me that he would put the shelves up once he redid the drywall in the bathroom.

:::Sigh:::: The getting-your-husband-to-Lowe's magic had apparently worn off. I don't know when I'll get lucky again. It could take years, months, weeks, but probably not days. I do have wonderful fencing to show for it though.

I solved a mystery today. I slipped on a pair of shorts that I didn't remember owning and that I hadn't worn since last summer. (Yes, they fit! - although I little too snugly I'm afraid.) As I was straightening out the pockets, I noticed a piece of paper in one of them. I pulled it out. It had been washed and was very fragile, but I carefully opened it up to find 3 library call letters.

Yes, I'm one of "those" people who actually frequents the library. Now that I have kids, they're my excuse to go, but I confess I'd go anyway. Where else can you find free movies, books, CDs, and computer software for free? But I digress...

I thought it would be interesting to find out what was behind those unrevealing numbers that I held: 641.578, 658.048, and 346.73. After a little bit of digging online, I managed to find out that 1 year ago, I looked up books on making a nonprofit work, women and divorce, and outdoor cooking. How's that for a varied diet of reading material? That's me. That sums me up pretty well. Interests from one spectrum to the other.

It is remarkable to think that just last Memorial Day, I was having to deal with hwmnbn moving out, facing a possible nasty divorce, and now, we're as in love as ever. And no, I'm not just saying that. I mean it. He has made so many awesome changes, and I really admire him today. In just a short year, he's come so far. :tear:

Solving that mystery today really struck me. How far I've come. How far we've come. How much has changed in a year. Just when things were horrible and I didn't know how I was going to manage, the sun comes up. I can see again. Things get cheerier.

Time for me to curl up next to my hubby and my little one. Good night.

Quote of the Day
Marriage is not just spiritual communion, it is also remembering to take out the trash.
Dr. Joyce Brothers (1928 - )