October | 2014 | A Scheltered Life

Well, I can easily state that in my planning, procrastinating, and general work-avoidance methods, I truly did not plan on having this be my next topic to post, but shoot dang, Merle! I was very happy to read that from the sticks to the bricks and back again has nominated my very new, very young blog for the One Lovely Blog Award. Since I had no idea that there even was an award, I can honestly state I was blown away and pleased. By way of explanation, bloggers are nominated by other bloggers. This is to promote and showcase up and coming, new bloggers, or promote established bloggers who have lovely blogs! I’m very touched and humbled to have my page included!

As I am a fairly good conformist (I fight when/where fighting is needed, otherwise I am a pretty good rule follower) — I will follow the rules set forth in accepting and nominating, and ask if you’re nominated, please also do the same. Here are the easy and fellow-promoting rules:

Thank and link back to the person who nominated you for the award.
List the Rules and Display the One Lovely Blog Award logo to your post and/or blog.
Share 7 facts/or things about yourself.
Nominate around 15 other bloggers and let them know about the award
Follow the blogger who nominated you, unless you’re already a follower.

Seven facts about me:

Humor is what drives me. I try to be funny. I enjoy being around people who are funny. I enjoy funny movies. Absolutely everything I’ve dealt with in my life, at some point, has had a moment of humor. I take it as a gift from God and how He’s helped me to deal with tragedies and stress.
I am a Catholic mom. I have a deep love for God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. That being said, I certainly struggle often with all that. I am a stubborn woman who can be passive-aggressive. Okay, it’s not so much that I can be passive-aggressive, but more that I am passive-aggressive. That kind of goes in the opposite direction of living a faith-filled life. God and I are working on that. Still. And again. But mostly still.
I come from a large family. It didn’t seem that big when I was growing up because that’s all I knew. We have four boys and four girls. Well, since I am one of the youngest and I am clearly “middle aged” I guess we could say four men and four women. And two brothers-in-law. My parents still live in the same home we grew up in.
I have a twin sister who is five minutes younger than I am. She and I do not look like, act alike, like the same things, nor have the same life-goals. I am outgoing; she is more shy. I am loud; and so is she. Wait—with people she already knows she’ll be loud. Otherwise, she is not very loud at all.
I have a boatload of nieces and nephews, step-nieces and step-nephews, and a handful of greats thrown in–some greats already here, and one on the way. ❤ This is a happy Aunt Juwie. Or, as the niece who will be having my newest great niece would say, Aunt Ju.
I have worked in state politics for just over 17 years. All but nine months of that time has been spent in a non-partisan office, serving both parties equally. Well, I guess all parties because we have an Independent a time or two. Lonely for them, I’m sure.
I love the color purple–absolutely my favorite.

I would like to recommend and nominate these folks:

Hope, Fireflies and Fairytales

I know I should have more that I follow, but I am truly such a novice and am still finding new blogs to follow. Please feel free to add your suggestions in the comments. I would love to add blogs to my library!

This is about the time of year that I begin my new year’s resolution planning. Mind you, not because I plan ahead–I think you can see from the theme of a few of my blogs that procrastination and distractedness run strong and true in these veins.

October. The obvious needs to be said: It’s breast cancer awareness month. Be aware. Do your part, check ’em out and get a mammogram. It hurts. But only for about six seconds. Three times on each side. Okay, so 36 seconds. That’s doable. Do it.

Again: October. Halloween is in the air. Candy is in my pockets, my purse, my desk drawer, my car. I am a slave to three types of candy. Milk Duds–available year-round. Candy corn–available year-round (but for some reason, even more delicious after October 1). And peanut butter kisses–a Halloween delicacy. The only other person I am aware of who enjoys them as I do is my sister Susie. We’ve been known to hock a few away on the off-chance that we may see each other and can give the other the yummy surprise. We haven’t lately because she’s hours away from me, and with my children still in school leisure travel during the school months is hard to do. And she is in the glorious stage of no children at home, a great marriage that both she and my brother-in-law enjoy so they do things together and often, and are grandparents so they get to enjoy their sweet little grandbabies. Methinks that my great-niece and great-nephew may be enjoying my peanut butter kisses these days.

On the heels of the candy-fest comes Thanksgiving. We have a large family reunion every year, with a LOT of food. This is year is our 50th Anniversary, and we are hoping for a large turn-out. A large turn-out indicates a large amount of food.

Then comes the month of December with Christmas parties, holiday parties, birthday parties, more Christmas parties. You know what ALL these have in common? Food. Lots and lots of food.

You can see where this is all going, can’t you? There is nothing but socializing and over-indulgence in my near future! My new year’s resolution seems pretty plain to figure out–lose weight and exercise. There is really no good reason to start now, with this slippery slope of food starting already. BUT WAIT! January is hard to start being healthy–it’s my Birthday Month. Hmm … “Autumn Resolutions” sounds about right again.