2012 Goals

So...I know it's been a while since I've posted...and it's certainly WAY past over due for me to be setting my 2012 Goals...but here it is anyway.

Last year I attempted to set "Eleven  in '11" which was supposed to be eleven things that I was going to do in 2011.  Sadly, I think I might have accomplished about three things on that list.  And really and truly, that is SO sad.  Because they weren't hard things AT ALL!

I hate making "resolutions" - for the same reason no one else likes to make them - we all FAIL miserably at keeping them.  So, instead, I've decided to make some goals.  I've been rolling these around in my head since January and on Tuesday I finally got around to putting pen to paper so I could keep track of what I was setting out to do. 

And when setting these goals, I wanted to set things that were reasonable...within reach...nothing too complicated.  Most of these things are just one step to something bigger...and I think these are all great places to start.

So without further adieu...my 2012 Goals (as posted on my dresser mirror)! :)

I'm really excited about this list.  And yes...I do think it's funny that "replacing blinds" made my 2012 goals list...but I've been meaning to do this since I moved in...and it's just not happened yet.  There are a few other things that I'd like to do (buy new living room furniture, fix the drainage issue in my side yard, buy a Kindle fire) but I truly believe that by accomplishing these things first, I'll eventually be able to do the other things that I'd like to do.  And if I do everything in 2012, what will I have to do in 2013??? ;)

In other news, the great college onslaught has begun for my high school kid.  He took the PSAT in the beginning of the school year, plus he is now Microsoft certified in Excel & Access (whatever that means)...so the college info has started pouring in.  This makes me both excited and sad...excited because out of the colleges that have contacted him, Wake Forest is on the list (to me this is HUGE because Wake is hard to get in to...but it would also mean MAJOR scholarships since 4 years of tuition would probably equal the cost of my house) and I'm excited to see so many colleges reaching out to him.  Sad because we are getting closer to the day that he will leave me behind...

And to correct another issue that has been a thorn in my mother's side...I put a special "call out" for my Dad on his birthday in November...but didn't for my mother in December.  Why you may ask?  Because I only blogged ONCE in the month of December...and it was a full 15 days after her birthday. But, she will not let it rest...so I want to officially wish my mother a belated Happy Birthday via my blog...it's only 2 months & 8 days late.  I guess the birthday dinner & gift were not enough for her! ;)

This is one of my favorite pictures of my parents...taken last June...

Seriously, I do love my momma! And I know she had a happy birthday in December! :)

Hope you all are doing well...maybe I'll get back into the blogging habit...we shall see!

Monday Minute...a conversation with my mother...and now I am the obnoxious mother!

Ok - I know that's a lot...but it's Monday and I have a lot to cover!

First of all...it's time for the Monday Minute, brought to you by The Daily Dose of Reality!



1. Who is your "what-if" person?
(What-if person being what if I married this person or am now in a relationship with "this" person)

I could do a whole post on this question...what-if I had married my first college boyfriend?  We'd probably be divorced because he cheated on me...he wasn't exactly committed.

Or what-if I married Dylan's father?  Probably also be divorced...because he drives me nuts now.  I just don't get him.  Yes...I'm thankful that didn't work out.

Or what-if I married Policeman Dan?  Well, I can honestly say I don't know how that one would've worked out...I didn't know him long enough to determine...but I'm guessing that one wouldn't have worked out well either since we didn't make it that far.

So...I can say I'm pretty happy none of my "what-if's" really were!

2. What is your nickname?

Jenn...it's the only one I accept

3. If you could choose how you died, how would you like to die?

Well...I've decided "I'm gonna live forever..."

Ok really - I want it to be peaceful with time to prepare my family...especially Dylan...

I really don't like this question...it's making me sad :(

4. If you could have named yourself, which name would you have picked?

You know, I'm just not sure!  I hated always being one of three or four "Jennifer's" at school...so I guess I could say something a little more original.  I have plenty of names on my future children "wish list"...but I don't know that I would claim any of them for me!  I guess you just get used to what you have and can't see it any other way.

5. Who were you named after or for what reason did your parents choose your name?

Well...I don't know where my first name came from...I think my parents just liked it...along with thousands of other mothers from the 1970's!  My middle name is the same as my Mom's...and my grandfather, that I never met. 

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Now...for an almost actual conversation my sister & I had with my mother...I say "almost actual" because I can't remember it verbatim, but this is pretty close.  I have to preface this by saying that my parents have a date night every Sunday...they go see a cheap movie and have popcorn at the movie for dinner.  It's just so stinking cute...sometimes I forget that they've been married for almost 37 years!  Anyway...here goes...

Mom: Guess what movie we are seeing this weekend?

Me & Missy: What?

Mom: Killers.

Me & Missy: What is that?

Mom: I think it has Britney Spears' husband in it...what's his name?

Me: (not sure at all about this) Kevin Federline?

Mom: No...that's not the one.

Missy: I'm pretty sure she's only been married once.  Are you talking about Justin Timberlake?

Mom: No...oh, I can't remember his name...

My mom tries hard...bless her heart.
She was thinking Ashton Kutcher.
How she put him with Britney Spears is beyond me...maybe she was thinking Brittany Murphy because of that movie they were in together?  Who knows...

And sorry...that conversation was a lot funnier in person...sometimes I think I should carry around a tape recorder or have people following me around with a video camera.  It really would make good comedy!

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When I was younger, I hated for my mother to wake me up.  She would come in singing, open my blinds or shades and pull the covers off of me.  It was obnoxious.  I always wanted my dad to come wake me up.  He would pull the covers up around my arms, gently shake me and say in a quiet voice "It's time to get up".  I have tried to take a lesson from my dad.  I wake Dylan up more like he used to wake me, although, it takes a little more force to get Dylan moving.
 
However, today...I became the obnoxious mother.  Dylan has been going to workouts for the high school soccer team.  They begin at 8am...so I wake him at 7.  This morning I went in, shook him and said "It's time to get up."  To which I got..."noooooooo, I don't wanna get up".  Five minutes later, I repeated the same gentle waking technique...got the same result.  Five minutes later, I walked into his room...turned on the stereo...bumped the volume...turned on the light and took his covers off of him.  Finally...he got up...but boy, did I pay for my choice!  What a grumpy bear!  I guess I'll think twice before being so obnoxious...or maybe not!  It did get results!
 
Hope you are having a great Monday!!!