Coming up for Air

Every now and then in a big week o’ work I have to come up for air, right?

So today’s the day. It has been a super busy week around here, getting people registered for Up & Running, and the finishing touches to my digital album class for CKU (which is in Chicago on March 13-15). I am nervous. I also remember last year, posting here the night before my first digital class, about how nervous I was.

I quoted John Mayer (who I’ll be a fan of forever for his song Heart of Life), “Fear is a friend who’s misunderstood.” I still think that, a year later. Of course 90 minutes with Photoshop has stretched into an all-day event sponsored by Shutterfly, but that’s just details, right? :P

Words of the Month 

I’m also getting ready to pick my word for March. February, which I never posted, was this:

Gentle

And it was a reminder that all things have their times and seasons, and that gentleness to myself and to the people around me was what I needed then.

So I took a couple photos of things that remind me of this word - this brand-new extra-delicous bubble bath from Bath & Body Works. Oh my goodness, it is pure relaxation in a bottle (and I’ve used it 2x this week already.. ;):

 

And my amazing old-school Strawberry Shortcake quilt. My mom made this for me for Christmas when I was 7. More comfort than gentle, but Jared loves it so much he calls it The Napping Tool. And it is.

 

It was a good word for February. Did you have a February word? Do you have a March word picked out?

Funnies

Jared won the funny of the day, which I haven’t done in a long time. It’s interesting how my perspective has been changing in the past few weeks - I find things funny again. :)

For each of our online classes, Jared has to manually post each daily email so the students can go back and reference them. Well you know what manual, repeated action means to a programmer.. an opportunity to write a program! (This is due to the inherent combination of laziness and brilliance that all programmers seem to have. (although here’s an interesting and humorous article about why programmers should be lazy and dumb).

So he’s been working on a program to automate the email posting process AND learning Python while he’s doing it. So I said (kinda quoting the whole lazy article thing I’ve seen before), “Hooray for the laziness of programmers!”

And he said (with just the slightest touch of indignance, “Let’s just call it efficiency.”

A few more funnies from Elliott:

Eating cinnamon toast the other day: “It’s snowing out of my bread!”

Eating hashbrowns at Ihop two nights ago: “More hospitals please!”

During the big rainstorm this week (as he finally settled down from waking up crying): “I scared of the funder.”

And one from Rowen:

This morning she was watching Saturday cartoons, eating some dry cereal while I was up in the office working. She just came up, plucked off a piece of cereal that had stuck to her pajamas, and said, “Here mama! I brought you a snack!” For real. Ha!

And a pic. Man those boots are the best things ever.

 

 Sorry about the long delay between posts this week. Sometimes, like a crashing wave, my schedule gets the best of me. :)

Comments

[suzanne]

And did the time he took to write the program and learn Python, actually take longer than if he'd just done the manual, repeated action? I'm famous for that sort of thing. LOL

Love the Strawberry Shortcake quilt. So, so sweet. I find it funny that the stuff we loved as kids is back for our kids. Good marketing, I suppose.

[MN Carol]

Oh how I love the pictures and funnies! Thanks! They just make my heart happy! I'm glad you can finally take a breather! Hugs to all!

[Lis]

I used to do a lot of public speaking before I retired and no matter how much I did it, I was still always nervous beforehand. And people were astounded because they said I made it look easy. So, even though my first reaction was to be astounded that you are nervous about Chicago - as I think you are an AMAZING instructor - I remembered and just wanted to affirm once again how good you really are in the hopes that it will help.

AND I loved the kid comments - so cute what they say - AND at 64 I still have my childhood teddy bear who sits on my bed to give me encouragement. Love those childhood things that still give us comfort.

Blessings

[Lori]

Just wanted to tell you that your new picture on your home page is gorgeous! And for your word, Gentle - it made me think of a song I love that's called Gentle. I was looking for the lyrics, and found a post on someone's blog, all about how she chose Gentle as her word for the year - she also has the lyrics to the song I love. See it here:
http://kmduff.blogspot.com/2007/12/gentle.html

[Lynnette]

I'm amazed you're able to post on your blog as much as you do - thanks though! I always love reading!

[LivE]

Thanks for the Word of the Month reminder! It is the 1st today after all! :D My February was JOY. And I'm so GLAD you're finding humor everywhere you look! :D

I so know how "aromatherapeutic" a nice, long bath with a delicious bodysoap is... my all-time fave is Dove's Fresh Moisture bodywash! (I love imagining all the stress going down the drain with the bathwater, lol!)

Oh, and shake the butterflies out of your tummy... you are the absolute BEST, there's nothing to be nervous about except the anticipation. But once you're up there and talking about everything you know like the back of your hand, everything will just fall into place and be totally great. I'll be cheering you from halfway around the world. :)

PS. I had a Strawberry Shortcake scented doll when I was a kid. Your quilt is so much softer.:D

[Joanie]

I always enjoy your posts, don't stress that they are infrequent. Job #1 is you and your sweet little family... we can all wait.
Hugs, Joanie

[Diane]

Enjoy you time at CKU - it will be fun. Remember to let you home life run you over - that's what fills us up - keeps us going and gives reason to our lives!

[Julie L.]

So glad to see your funnies back! I was just thinking of them the other day, because I had series of my kid funnies to put on my little blog--so I must do that! Good luck with your Digi album class in Chicago--ooh, how I'd love to be in it! You'll be awesome as always! Wish you were coming back to CKC Buffalo!

[stevie b]

So glad you decided to come up for air - been missin' you!
Not to worry about CKU, you will be fantastic (as always)!
I liked reading your funnies, and laughed especially hard at Rowen's plucked piece of ceral as a snack offering - too funny!!!
Speaking of too funny, I'm happy to hear that you're feeling better and finding humor again; very important stuff...
Hugs

[Heather L. of Nampa ID]

Your devastatingly adorable children are quite intelligent too. How does one parent get so lucky? :)

[LuannW]

I have said it before your class at CKU was the best computer class I have ever taken. The way you had it set up with the TA kept it moving at a perfect pace. I wish I was going to CKU to take your class. I am looking forward to starting another class with you this week.

[Angi Smith]

Don't worry when life gets in the way of posting! We just thought the registration was going on a LONG time!!! Hehehe! Love those boots of Elliott's. Nerveous about starting Digi in Deep this month. Trying to take a lot of pictures. I tend to save just one or two pictures from a shoot session and your layouts for the class always have a bunch of pictures in them and I have to scramble!!! Hope to learn some in-detail stuff this time to enliven some of my picture + journaling only layouts. I am glad if you are trying anti-depressants that you are feeling better. They don't always work on the first try, but they are wonderful to get you out of a mild depression and it is like waking up after a long sleep. I have said that depression takes all the good things out of your life and you don't even realize it until you begin to feel again. But it is SO VERY IMPORTANT that you treat it while it is mild or you will end up like me, 16 years later and still fighting severe depression.We love you, Jessica, and all that you bring to the scrapping world, as well as sharing your life with us. And, oh yeah, could that book idea have an index?

[ScrappyGuy]

Jessica, good luck in Chicago. I am already signed up for Houston and can NOT wait patiently. Your Friday class has already filled, has to be encouraging that so many believe in you. Keep us posted on how it's going!

[Amy L]

I am sure you could go to that class half-prepared and it would be the best class they'd ever seen. I pestered Jared about the e-mails in NWR! I hope it will go well with his program in the new class.

[Kathy]

Jessica,
I was at your first digi class, you did wonderfully. I would never have known that it was your first if you hadn't told us. You are an amazing instructor. Your abilities are astounding. Please don't be nervous for your class, just be you and remember they all put their panties on the same way LOL or briefs (if there are any guys in the class.)
I wish I could have gone to Chicago (I would have been in the first row with fullest attention) but I am saving money for a trip to Greece. Can't wait for that one. Hope CKU comes to my area again next year.
I am excited about starting the Digi In: Deep class and wish I had some of your photo subjects. My kids all gone, only my animals.
Keep those funny pics coming. They are the best.
Love your word of the month. It reminds me to be gentle as I have not done too much of that lately. Sometimes I let the agitation of the world get the best of me. Need to delve into my bible more, so my word for this month is Subjection. That is subjecting myself to scripture, and positive reading materail and music with a positive message. Hoping a change in attitude will occur.

[Cheri]

OMGosh my DS (about the same age as Elliot) has the same adorable boots:) He LOVES them! And my DH is a software engineer and is similarly "blessed" with laziness/efficiency/call it what they will, lol. I'm gonna send him the article!

[Pinewoodtoo (Ann)]

You are so right about coming up for air. It is too easy to get bogged down by everyday life! I love these photos. I am back in action again. Have been layed low by that nasty "bug" that's going round.

[Scrappy Nan]

Jessica, I am soooo looking forward to ALL DAY with you next week. I am scrambling a bit with the homework, but am not really sweatin'. I am thrilled to be part of hybrid "HERSTORY".

[Anna Aspnes]

Hey Jessica! Great to chat at CHA. I've tagged you. Don't usually partake in tagging but needed a break from the work side of things. You?

[Anke]

Jessica, I love this whole concept of the word of the month and the one you picked was perfect. You are amazing! Thanks for the inspiration

[Susie Roberts]

Jessica, I have just received my totally wonderful copy of Computer Tricks 2. I can't tell you how much I am enjoying this magnificent resource. If anyone is in doubt as to whether they should buy it then just refer them to me. It is absolutely FANTASTIC. Congratulations on a fabulous book!!!

[Wendy Inman]

As a former programmer before i became a SAHM... the first thing i thought of as i was reading about Jared and the program... was "hey that's just our inherent need to make everything as efficient as possible" then i had to laugh when Jared said the same thing. Ahh i miss being a programmer... sometimes LOL.

Love reading your blog :)

[Trude]

We use that same Bath & Body Works scent but in their linen spray - so lovely to spray on the sheets before bedtime. And it really helps us relax! And those boots really are the cutest. :)

[jan]

your class is gong to be fabulous! your kiddos are so freakin cute! and that fear is an awesome thing! it keeps you on your toes! (((HUGS))) hang in there, girl! :)