lizardblog ( the blog of liz creech

March 29, 2005
And now for something completely different

I was on Bryan Sherwoods Blog reading his first installment of his 100 things about him. It made me start thinking about nostalgic things. I really want to live right here, right now, but I do enjoy a little reminiscing every now and again. I had emailed my younger sister and got a response back from her. I always feel like she is trying to make things better, she is never satisfied with now, and she has become bitter. She keeps waiting for the future and for better times. Kids do that, before they know better. They want to be 10, then 13 and oh, my I can't wait til I am 16. The magic number after that seems to be 21. It seems it all stops almost right after that, though. Oh, to be young and really appreciate what you have at that young age. No aches and pains, no big responsibilities, a lot of fun and energy. No need to try and go back either.

So, I wonder. How are we meant to be? Like, how come we have to go through such hurtful things sometimes? How come people have to be mean to us? I think it all forms us into who we can/should/ought to be. If we let it anyway. So many of us try and fight it, this forming. We are of the immediate reward generation. We don't see the merits of waiting for the better thing, of enjoying the process. Kind of like getting this house ready. Yeah, there is a time frame but if it makes me feel this bad to push so hard to get it done by a certain time, maybe I should slow down. We have time.

I still remember my Great Grand Mother and Father. They had a little black Chihuahua dog named Spider. They were nice, but I only have about 5 minutes of memory about them. I remember my Grandfather. The biggest memory I have of him is sitting at the kitchen table and he would have a donut and a cup of coffee. He would dunk his donut in the coffee, take a big bite and say "AAAAH, coffee!" I think of that every time I have donuts and coffee, and yes I dunk mine too. I remember my Granny, she was strict but could always laugh. She use to tell me stories about how her sons once locked her in the outhouse. I think she beat them black and blue when she got out, but she made it so funny. I think a sad thing is that most of my old memories of my mom are of her charging after me on her crutches (she has polio) when I had done something bad. Like the time I pulled the fire alarm at church during a pot luck - HA! It was a dare and I really didn't know better. I remember my older sister taking up for me and then beating the snot out of me later, while I laughed about it. I remember chasing my younger sister into my mom's room, where she would flop on the bed on her back and start kicking, I still beat the snot out of her. I remember "toting" my friend Rhonda on my bike down our hill and plowing into a bush on the other side of the drive way and knocking us both out for a second or two - HA! I remember being on TV with all the neighborhood kids on our skate boards, we were soooo cool! Memories are good, and fun, and sometimes painful. I still am learning to live here and now though, this is where I will be happy, if I let myself.

posted by Liz at 8:49 AM - permalink - -

March 25, 2005
Stress

How do we learn stress? I understand that there are some naturally occurring stress circumstances but for kids to learn it is sad. I think about Katey and going to high school and the simple activity of using a locker causing stress for her. She didn't use one the whole first year she was there. She was afraid she would be late for a class or miss the bus or some such thing. I had to go to school today to get a martial art weapon that is Conor's but Katey had taken to school to use in the play Othello that her drama class is putting on. So, I had to go to the security office and get them from the police officer on duty. They have a security office in the school, full time police officers on staff! WHAT?! The officer and I were talking about how when we were in school it wasn't like that. I explained how I had been naive letting Katey bring the weapons to school in the first place. I just didn't think about it, neither did she, she just wanted realistic things to use in her play. No harm done, but walking around the school escorted by a policeman looking for Katey was interesting.

I was just thinking about that. I have been reading stuff on stress causing all manner of life threatening things, seeing it on the news and such. Being at her school and seeing a gun on his hip, and it made me think. What is our world coming to? And then the stress of getting this house ready. Yard sale today and tomorrow. I advertised in the paper and got a decent showing. While it was slow I was digging up some of the bushes I want to take with me to the new house. We will take them to my In-Laws on Sunday. And I look around and see all the stuff that needs to be done and then there is no more time. They are putting new carpet in on Wednesday and I need to have the other carpet cleaned and get quarter round put back and baseboards and paint and there is still so much stuff. I really don't think it will get done, I am fearful of not getting enough money out of this house because it looks like crap. I could just go on and on getting myself into a downward spiral and I can't afford that right now. Just pray for me and mine.

Peace to you.

posted by Liz at 3:31 PM - permalink - -

March 21, 2005
Weekend update

Before I get to the update, I want to thank you all for the words of encouragement. I have, more than once, just wanted to put my head in my hands and cry at all the stuff to be done. But, I don't cry much and you all helped me to keep plugging on.

Let's see. Had some of the folks from Vine and Branches come over on Saturday morning to help. My deepest thanks go out to them. Good thing it was raining or they might not be speaking to me today. Tim, my brother in law came and we got the tile down it 2 bathrooms and cut for the third. You can't do with out a potty so I will finish the third one soon. I am going to meet him this morning in about 45 minutes to get a T molding that will transition between the tile in the kitchen and wood in the living room. We got a pre-made molding down at the entrance of the half bath and it looks really nice. I didn't realize just how good a finished edge would look. Tim is wonderful with wood, he is making this molding for me from raw wood. It is amazing the things he does. He is going to add a larger Master bedroom onto their house and he is building the oak beams in his shop now. I got to see a lot of them. Truly amazing. He is pegging all of them, not using screws and nails and such.

The sad thing is that I wish we had gotten more done. There is still so much mess that it would have been too hard to get to much more. But stuff got done and it is slowly but surely coming together. I plan on grouting the bathrooms today and getting two potties going so I can adhere the tile in the half bath. I need to get that done by tomorrow evening, since people are coming over and they will need to use it.

I am bruised and tired and I have a weeks worth of vacation coming up soon. I am looking forward to that. Please continue to pray for patience and favor. And for my family, they catch the brunt of my witchyness when things aren't going my way. I promise pictures when I can or you can go check out Alan's blog, he knows how to post them and does regularly.

posted by Liz at 8:26 AM - permalink - -

March 18, 2005
DONE!!

Well, the P.O.D.S is packed and shut and locked. They will be here between 11 and 2 today to get it. Now, on to the more fun stuff, cleaning the inside of this house. Right now it is a complete mess, boxes and trash laying everywhere. I have to get the upstairs bathroom vinyl floor striped today and some leveling compound put on so it will be ready for tile tomorrow. Crap, I have to go get dura rock too, this stuff you put under tile on sub flooring. I guess that can wait til they come get the storage building. It is pitiful to walk around and look at stuff and not see much difference. To take 1200 sq. ft. of stuff out of your house and it still look cluttered. Well, there is a difference in the garage. And we also have several big things that are going into a yard sale next weekend. Hopefully we will make a lot of money and that will pay for our trip to Massachusetts. I am looking forward to seeing my friend Linda, not the 15 hour drive though. But hey, I drove 30 hours to Idaho, so this will be a piece of cake - HA!

I have all kinds of stuff rolling around in my head but I am a little tired right now so my brain isn't working too well. I will keep you all posted with progress reports.

posted by Liz at 8:47 AM - permalink - -

March 16, 2005
Deadline time

Well, the P.O.D.S. is coming today. It is supposed to be here by 11. Then it is work time. I keep "hearing" the big truck coming and going to the front door to check, I am so funny. I am ready for life to go back to normal, if there really is such a thing.

We are having a work day on Saturday, I know I have probably told you all of this, but, you know. We will be tiling and painting and cleaning and all manner of stuff then. If any of you have the time and want to come help, that would be fine with me. I can find you something to do for sure. It is funny how I try to do things for both old and new houses at the same time. I need to stop and just focus on this one first, just get it done and sold and then focus on the excitement of watching the new one go up. I can't remember if I have told you this part, but they put up the silt barrier. That is so they can grade the lot before they start building and all the dirt won't run into the storm drains.

Well, they just called and will be here in half an hour or so. Movin', movin', movin' get those boxes movin'. Yee Haw!!

posted by Liz at 8:21 AM - permalink - -

March 14, 2005
One Belief I have

There are two kinds of parents, the realistic and the unrealistic. The realistic parents know that they will, have or are going to do something to screw up their kids lives. Now I am not necessarily talking about shattering their entire world, like physical abuse, but the major embarassment kind of stuff. The unrealistic kind think that kids need to be grateful for everything they have ever done for them. I don't think kids ask to be born, the parents decide that when they have sex even if they don't mean to conceive. You do the deed and that is what comes of it. Another subject there. Any way, I do not understand the unrealistic parents who find out they did something to make their child unstable in some way and can in no way form or fashion even begin to understand or take responsiblity for their actions. Say, I told my daughter McKenzie that I thought her ears were a little big and continued to kid her about them her enitre life. Then when she gets out on her own she is continually doing stuff to hide her ears, goes to the extrememe of having cosmetic surgery that gets botched and is permantly disfigured. (This is just an example here so don't wig out on me) I find out that she did all this because I kidded her about her ears when she was little. I would hope that I could be sorry for that, that I could acknowledge what I had done and appologize. What is wrong with that? What makes us parents beyond that? What makes us so supperior that we never do wrong? Nothing I don't reckon. I do realize and agree that at some point in everyones lives they have to start taking responsibility for thier own actions and choose to let something from the past affect them or not. I also realize that we all have to "get over" something from our past. We have to realize that we are in charge of our actions and attitudes and responses.

I just had that thought and wanted to share it, cause people are stupid sometimes.

posted by Liz at 8:59 AM - permalink - -

March 11, 2005
Can it be done?

Debi came and helped me yesterday. We boxed some stuff up in the "guest" room. I gave the older girls the job of boxing up a lot of their stuff but I don't think they did it. So, one more thing to holler at them about. In the excitement of all this, I just get so wore down. I see one more thing, after thing after thing that needs to be done and I don't know if I can do it. My Brother-In-Law is coming next Saturday to help me tile and finish some things on the wood floors. Thank you God for someone with that experience who can/is/will come to help. There is so much to buy still. I have to buy a whole bunch of quarter round for the trim around the floors and to repair any that me might damage when we do the bathroom floors. Dura Rock sheets for the upstairs bathroom, and screws to anchor it, and maybe more adhesive. I haven't looked in the bucket to determine that yet. I have to pull up the vinyl flooring in all the bathrooms and remove carpet. The portable building is coming Wednesday, I am going to have to try and take Thursday off just to make sure it is packed by 7a.m. on Friday, when they are coming to pick it back up. Wow, I am making myself depressed thinking about it. I think some hard work might help. I think I will see if I can get some of the vinyl flooring up, and box up a bit more stuff. Just a little bit of accomplishment will help.

posted by Liz at 8:39 AM - permalink - -

March 08, 2005
Do you ever wonder?

Do you ever wonder what makes people like they are? Do you ever wonder why there are great people who experience awful things and sucky people who seem to get it all? I am sure there are all manner of what if's involved but still, I wonder.

Why is it that Satan picked Mark Palmer to pick on? Kind of makes you think. I can hardly wait til the future to see what happens in his life. I mean with this much crap being dealt out, there has got to be some wonderfully amazing stuff going to happen in his life (no pressure Mark - HA!)

Then there is this married guy at work who is cheating on his wife with another employee, they found out the wife was pregnant the week he was "going to leave her", and the new "couple" is just hoping the wife will miscarry. WHAT?! I just have to wonder what makes people even think things like that.

The only think I can figure on the second story is they do not have Jesus. Well, that can't really be it, because I have know plenty of Christians who are horrible bad people. Maybe their mom didn't kiss them every night, no, my mom didn't do that and I don't do things like that. Maybe their dad was an alcoholic who beat their mom, no, can't be that either cause I know wonderful people who grew up like that and don't act like that. Maybe they were abused? Maybe their dog ran away when they were little? I know, maybe we just live in a fallen world and they really just can't help themselves. If that is it that is a really lame answer.

What do you all think? Why are people bad? Why do they do horrible things and think horrible things and in general are just mean terrible people?

posted by Liz at 8:00 AM - permalink - -

March 03, 2005
Just Random Stuff

I have a visitor, he is a Mocking bird. I see him everyday. Now, he could be a she, but I can't tell, they look the same you know. Sometimes you can here it through the flew in the fireplace. He sits up there making some calls. I know that a pair have been around for at least 2 years. They are interesting birds to watch and listen to.

There is nothing like having a stranger come to your house to help you realize just how nasty your house is. Not dirty nasty, but cluttered nasty. Just stuff everywhere. I am actually looking forward to getting most of the stuff out of this house. It is such a nice house and we have managed to make it ugly. There is a plan, albeit a bit scattered but still there. I am going to order the P.O.D.S. this morning.

We sold our old grey Plymouth Voyager. WOO HOO!! Well, mostly we have. Because I am a poor records keeper, I can't find the title and you have to have that to transfer it. The couple called Tuesday night and the lady is nice, likes to talk. They came yesterday and looked at it and drove it and then said they would take it. We have to wait on the title though. That sucks, for both of us.

No school today and tomorrow. I have promised and plan on taking the kids to see "Series of Unfortunate Events". Katey has read all the books and the rest of us listened to some on tape, interesting. We are going to Subway too. Just a day out for fun with the kids. They will have earned it by the time it is time to go, though. I have some things to get done and they get to help - HA!

Back to house stuff. We went the other day, Monday, to pick out appliances for out new house. I am almost embarrassed at what we got. It is some really nice stuff, all stainless. But we entertain a lot so that was our excuse. I am pretty excited, just tired of the process. We have the month of March to get this house ready and then we are going to try and sell it ourselves come the 11th of April. We are going to visit a friend in Massachusetts the first week in April and we will wait til we come back. I reckon we will use the money from the van sale toward fixing and selling this house. What I find funny is that all the books I have read ultimately say we can't do it, to expect it to take a really long time, and then we will give up and list it with a realtor. I don't think so. I really believe we can do this. Once we get things in order it will be a very desirable house for someone.

Okay, I have rambled on enough with my random stuff.

posted by Liz at 8:39 AM - permalink - -

spiritual

> vine & branches
> vineyard central

blogs

> Garden Escapades
> Trish Hiduk
> Maryann
> Alan Creech
> The Vine
> Little Houses
> Amber Bishop
> Jody Nixon
> Laura Ogle
> Debi Warford
> Jason & Brooke Evans
> Eric Keck
> Beth Keck
> Pete Matthews
> Trudi Matthews
> Brian Phillips
> Bryan Sherwood
> Malie
> Kim Johnson

Homeschool

> vegsource homeschool
> discovery school channel
> saxon math and phonics

general interest

> john rosemond's affermative parenting
> lisa welchel
> thunderstruck
> Homestar Runner

gardening

> Kids Gardening

books i like

Here are some books I suggests if you are looking to homeschool or just for information. I gleaned a lot from them. Our church gets credit if you buy through these links.

In their Own Way
by Thomas Armstrong

Seven Times Smarter
by Laurel Schmidt

How to Talk So Kids Can Learn
by Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish

Teen Proofing
by John Rosemond