So Handy

So, we've talked a few times on this blog about all the good household items I've acquired over the years: pink tools, electric screwdriver, first-aid supplies, super glue, and lots of misc. kitchen stuff. However, despite all these helpful items, I have somehow made it to 32 without this item:

A carpet shampooer. After some thorough research on amazon and a recommendation from a prior roommate, I am the new owner of a Little Green Machine. And I Love it. (Side note: I went to Wal-mart for this purchase. I pretty much never shop at Wal-mart, but one of my resolutions is to try to be a money maker and not a money spender, so I thought my frugality should start with this purchase. I just got on Target's website, though, and I may have only saved $1. Oh well. My card got declined there (at Wal-mart), which made me laugh. It was on fraud alert. hahaha. That's what you get for detouring out of your routine.)
So I got that, and some screws and zip ties at Home Depot. (more on that later.)
As soon as I walked in the door, I set to scrubbing up 9 little spots in my entry way that had been driving me crazy for about 6 months. And it worked awesome. And over the next few days, I cleaned my couches. Now, I've had my couches for about 8 years. They have been scotch-guarded and spot cleaned, but never deep cleaned because I can never bring myself to pay a hundred or so dollars to have someone clean them. It took hours and hours, but they look brighter and fluffier, and, well, so much cleaner.

And then, I had to attend to the pig. See, for over a year now, I've wanted a light-up Christmas pig. Last year they were all sold out. But this year I got one at Big Lots in November. I was so excited. But even though the idea was amazing, the design was flawed. And all its parts (like its legs and head) kept falling off. And unfortunately, this Christmas was the only Christmas of my life I didn't decorate at home. Chalk it up to being busy or distracted or to being in Idaho for 9 days, I didn't so much as buy a Christmas tree. Or attend to my pig. But last week, after a little time and 17 zip ties later, Gunther the Christmas Pig was ready to ring in the New Year! He looks amazing.

Gunther The New Year's/Christmas Pig

And for my last little handywomen feat, this is my new shaving cream. BTW, Target Soy shaving cream is by far the best I've ever used (and I've tried a lot). Unfortunately, when I opened up this bottle, the cap had fallen off and it wouldn't work. So I busted out my leopard duct tape, and it's worked like a dream ever since. whoo-hoo!

p.s. If you're wondering from my last post what a headliner is, it's the fabric on the ceiling of your car. And mine started to fall off right above the driver's seat, which was HORRIBLE to me, as it might actually be a sign that my car is 12 years old. So, after consulting with Brad, I peeled the molding back, peeled the edge of the fabric back until I could see the space inside and sprayed it full of spray adhesive. Then I took a ruler and smoothed the fabric back in place. It's not perfect, but it's close. And the Altima gets to live another day!

"Holy Crap I'm Single"

This is the lovely phase that went through my head this morning when I opened my eyes. After hours-ful of crazy dreams, it was the stark reality that awakened me.
Yes, it was my own doing. Yes, we spent the last year trying our hearts out.
Until mine wore out.
And gave up a little.
The first few days were my usual post-break-up productive days.
Months of junk mail was finally attended to.
My shower curtain is bleached fluffy white.
I was doing ok. Well, even.
And then there were the sudden bouts of crying.
For miscellaneous reasons.
Including hormones. And friends. And love.
And then there was a little arguing. With a little trying.
And then there was this morning.
Where the little bit of fear that lives in each of us tried to yell at me and ask
what on earth was I thinking.
And I told it I had to.
But this will take a bit of adjusting. That I may not have planned for all too well.
I mean, do we plan for single? Why would we do such a thing?
First, we think of crazy plans. Like moving, painting, buying.
And then, we think, "It's time to get settled. This may last awhile."
He was quite charming.
This is no time for replacement.
This is time for adjustment.
And I think of the people who I cannot mirror in this situation.
I cannot be like them,
But I can still be me. Maybe even a little bit more than before.
And I take a deep breath. And keep breathing. And start trusting.
Again.

(That was yesterday. Today I saw a therapist to make sure I'm not crazy who I'm quite certain will actually be no help at all. Because, I, of course, actually think I'm quite sane and grounded. But I did get to take the inkblot test and I think that was worth every penny. ;-) I also fixed my headliner with spray adhesive and a ruler and am remarkably impressed with the results.)

A Celestial View aka A Breathtaking New Year's

It is sometimes hard to explain how glorious the randomness of life is. For example, some mornings you go to work having no idea what to do for New Year's, and the next day you find yourself in Flagstaff watching a pinecone drop and eating amazing sushi. And then another friend who's been MIA for months happens to be there as well.

And then maybe the next day you spend your Sabbath a little bit differently than you will the rest of the year. Because you hunt down a Catholic cathedral and debate if lighting a candle would be sacreligious 'cause you mostly want to do it 'cause they do on movies and you never have, but you opt against it out of principle. Instead, you hunt down an energy vortex and stand on a mountain in Tree Pose because it's your favorite and makes you feel almost tall.

And then you get back in the car and your best friend tells you that he just spoke with the pilot doing biplane tours at the airport and that if Skylar and I can get him in the plane he can fly. And of course, that's what you go do. So everyone gets settled and you prepare yourself for a roller coaster ride and instead it feels like you are sailing in the sky. It's the most beautfiul scenery you've ever seen and a take-off and landing so smooth you barely know they happened. And, yes, the plane was designed in 1926 and is the cutest cherry red 278 horsepower machine you've ever seen. And, of course, now you want one. Someday.

Skylar the Magnificent and Pilot the Magnificent

My Favorite

The Seven Ridges no one sees. There's one 8-mile dirt road that leads to them.

So cute! And so excited

For now, you'll be content with the coolest, most peaceful, most incredible New Year's ever.

Here's to 2012!!

A Carbiener Christmas

So, yes, I brought Jonmark home for the holidays. Really?! Was I supposed to leave him here alone?! Was I supposed to be alone? No, of course not. Christmas is meant to be spent together, and that we did. I had 9 days off from work, and therefore, he did, too. (Except that we spent many long nights putting together his work presentation. Actually, he did. I usually fell asleep. But I was there for moral support.) Anyways, so Christmas vacation was awesome. And sometimes kinda boring. But rarely.

You see, it could also be known as our family's Gimp Little Christmas. You know there's Jonmark' s wheelchair, and then, our friend Kevin thought he broke his ankle, my dad was recovering from knee surgery, and my mom stepped off a ladder and fell on her back on their stairs (inside). She laid on her back on the couch most of the time. I fetched a lot of things for people :-) But I was really grateful for my legs! Jonmark and I made a super-quick run to Boise to meet and eat with Jessica & Nate. We ate at a new fancy restaurant called "Fork"  and basically just caught up on each other's lives. It was so good to see them again. We also went to the Boise co-op where we bought my favorite cookies. And Jonmark fell in love with Cloverleaf Creamery's Chocolate Milk.

This is the Milk

It is pretty much insane. It was so fun to show Jonmark basically the whole state of Idaho, which he had never seen. And it always feels good to be back in Boise. And home. Of course :-)
My birthday was the most low-key of my life, I think. Jonmark gave me a digital frame with all the awesome pics of us over the last year. My parents got me two little leather tape measures I had asked for for measuring mommy tummies, and, um, that was that. I couldn't really decide on a cake that sounded good, so we didn't do one. Next year- I'm making some decisions early. :-) A birthday doesn't happen without a cake. Let's be real.

The rest of the day was crazy. We all pitched in to make the dinner, which we never really had done before. Now, all my mother's children are actually very good cooks, but unless we are asked to help out at home, we're usually not too good at it. Unless my mom sits on the couch. Then Candice gets the ball rolling, and we all get assignments and start going to it. Dad fried a delicious turkey, Candice made stuffing and mashed potatoes, I made sweet potato casserole, and Brad made Sis. Matheson's caramel chocolate cheesecake. mmm...mmm... (And someone made some corn and some canned green beans somewhere along the way....). Oh, and Candice made awesome rolls. (And the next day I did, too. Yup. Me. I finally learned. :-) )

The Rolls that Christin made. 

That night, we did the nativity scene at my parent's house, instead of my Nana's. My mom had made most of the costumes, but Brad & Brea had done the last of the sewing after mom's fall. It took a lot of trust for her to let them do it, but it shouldn't have. They did awesome (p.s. parents, I need a picture of that. I was busy being an angel.)

Afterwards, we gathered everyone together and read "The Polar Express," which almost made me cry just like it always does.  And then all the adult-kids went downstairs to wrap presents and watch elf. Now, the problem with having 3 adult children and 3 adult significant others and 1 adult Christmas guest and 3 small children is that we buy stuff. Sometimes too much. Wrapping took forever. We wrapped while people were told to turn around and look the other way. We ended up with this living room:

I wouldn't say that this much unwrapping made for a better Christmas, but it did make for a lot of chaos and some very excited children and quite a few smiles and surprises. It was crazy, but it was so fun. Merry Christmas, everyone!

Perri Marie

Walking her Turtle Balloon

It appears that if I would like to stop getting "why are you still a dork?" text messages from my dad at 7am, I will have to start blogging about the awesomeness that was my Christmas holiday. As I went through the pictures, I couldn't help but be a little drawn to the ones that have a certain 22 month old in them. She has the best "cheese!!" face in the whole world, as you will see. Behold, little Perri Marie:

Trying to Sneak into the Wheelchair

Eating

Sitting in the doll bed made by a little elf named my dad