Pumpkin 2008 - Scary Bear

We started this last Sunday night, finished it last night. I only broke one pumpkin saw carving tool.
It is finished!

By request here are some of my quirks. I know that I am crazy - most people already know - so keep the gasping to a minimum please.

1) The Green blanket
Family and former college roommates know that I have a tattered green blanket that I've had for years. I'm not quite sure how old it actually is, but I did have it as a child. It originally was an electric blanket and over the years of use I have removed the wiring from it. Yes, I do realize that I am an adult with a blanket, yes it is on my bed and it does bring me comfort. It is really soft. No, I do not take it to work or take it with me everywhere like Linus. Over the years, my sisters threaten me to throw it out and mocked me for keeping it around. My husband takes it from me and continues the mocking tradition.

2) I stage everything.
Personal environments have a huge impact on me. I will move items around until I reach a peaceful satisfaction. (This is where I ask for gasping restraint from the audience)
I prop environments. This means, my house, my desk - basically any environment that I spent time in. So there must be a balance of furniture and accessories and negative space. There's no formula. Its just based on my spatial gauge.

3) I am hyper-sensitive
There are, on occasion, times that I am hyper- sensitive to people's words and emotions. This probably fits into anxiety more-so than a quirk, but, it's defiantly not so normal. I like being around people and I love to socialize, but I go through cycles of needing to be alone quite often after a social event. I'll usually "hibernate" if I have been over exposed or over saturated myself with people pleasing tasks. And on occasion, I become quite emotional if I don't get my "alone time".

4) I drug myself if I have to fly
Yep - Tylenol PM is my friend on any trip in the air. That's it, it's my plane crack.

5)I don't take the first " no" as an answer, ever
I have developed quite a skill in being "persistent". In every manor I am not disrespectful, but I want to make sure that all considerations and facts are known about the situation before a decision is made. (In elementary school, an aptitude test did predict that I might want to pursue a career as a Judge) I know that this was very annoying to my parents as a teenager as I try to "debate" their decisions.
Please, Lord don't let my children have this personality type.
Not a good spiritual trait either, it's very disrespectful to assume that God doesn't know all the "considerations".
This is a bad quirk.

6) Pre-Mustard/ Pre-Ketchup liquid
The liquid that comes out if you forget to shake first. If it gets on my bread or bun I start over. Can't take the juice.

Witness to the mayhem

My bear started flying again. He had mentioned several times that he'd like to get his piolot's license renewed.
Several weeks ago, he joined a local flight club and got up in the sky again. When he came home he was glowing. I thought the man was going to literally jump up and down.

So last weekend he had another flight scheduled and asked be to go with him (I committed to the airport, not the plane silly). We packed a lunch, took the top down off the jeep and headed to the airport. He walked me through the preflight check, took some photos then kissed me good and took off.

Here are the highlights =>
















Man I love him!!!

Where does the time go?

Below is a picture of my oldest niece. She's 14 and now a young woman. She was born when I was a senior in high school. Now she's in high school.

I'm so proud of the woman she is. She is a very caring, smart and loving. And she has such talent.

Yet, when I think of her, I still think of the giggly toddler I toted around.

Where does the time go?