My soon to be graduating from high school son really doesn't want to participate in his graduation ceremony. He can't say why -- just that he doesn't want to. I, on the other hand, remember every struggle that we have been through to get him to this point, and is is hugely important to me for him to participate in this right of passage.
I get that he doesn't want to participate, although I don't understand why. In my head, I can run through probably a hundred reasons that my son can give that has kept him from participating in a lot of school functions. I know these play a part in it. But to me, we have worked so hard to get to this point, and it is the one thing that he can do that, for me, completes this part of the cycle. Selfish of me, I know.
Lest you think that the selflessness part of the title is on me also, let me quickly put you on the right track. This boy, no - not boy any longer, but a young man, who had said at least a hundred times that he won't participate, that he can't participate, that he doesn't want to participate in the graduation ceremony, put aside all of his reasons and in a great moment of pure selflessness, said quietly to me today, "I didn't know it meant so much to you. Mom, I'll do it."
Dictionary.com defines selflessness as "having little or no concern for oneself." That is what my son is doing -- putting aside his concern for himself in order to do this one thing for his mom. I couldn't be more proud.
Friday, March 22, 2013
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Check out my new look for eBay!
Decided to make some changes to my eBay listings by making them look a bit more professional. Here is a link to the one item that I used an embedded footer in. new look Tell me what you think!
Spring
Spring has arrived. Usually this is met with peeps of color as the "Easter" season flowers begin to show their colorful heads. Not so this year. The tv weather guy said that it is going to be cold with a possibility of snow here in St. Louis. And further south -- like where my dad lives -- 3-5 inches are possible. So instead of the welcoming peeps of color, we have gray skies and possible snow.
Normally, I love winter, and am sad to see it gone. However, this winter, I just can't seem to stay warm. For those who know me, this edges on being considered a miracle. I have always been hot -- even in the winter, I have been known to wear sleeveless tops and loose skirts. Somewhere someone is playing a weird joke on me.
So I am glad winter has been shown the door -- now if the weather would just cooperate!
Normally, I love winter, and am sad to see it gone. However, this winter, I just can't seem to stay warm. For those who know me, this edges on being considered a miracle. I have always been hot -- even in the winter, I have been known to wear sleeveless tops and loose skirts. Somewhere someone is playing a weird joke on me.
So I am glad winter has been shown the door -- now if the weather would just cooperate!
A Quickie
No, it so isn't the quickie you are thinking of! Just a quick note. I am dog tired. eBay has a deal where for the last 3 days, you could post up to 500 listings for free in addition to the monthly allotment of 50. Always the bargain hunter here, I dislike paying for eBay postings. (I figure they get enough of my money!) But being the procrastinator that I am, I waited until this afternoon to start. I took pictures and created listings for a total of 7 hours today. My body is aching, so I know it is time to stop and head off to bed. Love the eBay deals, but don't want to end up in a fibro flare tomorrow. As always, if you are interested in checking out my Ebay sales, here is a link.
Monday, March 18, 2013
Did they say SPRING break or WINTER Break?
Three days ago, the weather was perfect. Sunshine all around, blue skies, everyone getting their share of Vitamin D -- and all was right with the world, at least in my little part of it. Skip to yesterday -- snow in the morning, gray skies, rainy all afternoon. And to top it off, it was cold, cold outside.
My boys are on Spring Break, but it seems more like a winter break to me.St. Louis pays homage to St. Patrick with Parades and multiple festivities. I didn't feel very festive though as I lay huddled under a blanket with a space heater on.
The only real spring like thing around seems to be the birds. The robins are out in full force, even if they are a bit puffed up as they ruffle their feathers in an attempt to stay warm. There were literally hundreds of birds -- although I have to confess I don't know what they were -- outside this morning. I heard them before I saw them. I was coming back from picking up my son, when I opened my car door to the chatter of birds that was so intense you couldn't hardly hear yourself talk. I stepped out of the car and began to look around. When I turned around, the neighborhood trees and power lines were full of them. I am guessing that my little corner of the world is in their migration path. It was made even more awesome, because when my son shut his car door after getting out this morning, about 1/2 of those birds whooshed up in the air creating an amazing spectacle of birds almost blacking out the sky as they lifted off. It really was something like you would see on television. My head is still swimming with the sight of all of those birds taking flight.
My boys are on Spring Break, but it seems more like a winter break to me.St. Louis pays homage to St. Patrick with Parades and multiple festivities. I didn't feel very festive though as I lay huddled under a blanket with a space heater on.
The only real spring like thing around seems to be the birds. The robins are out in full force, even if they are a bit puffed up as they ruffle their feathers in an attempt to stay warm. There were literally hundreds of birds -- although I have to confess I don't know what they were -- outside this morning. I heard them before I saw them. I was coming back from picking up my son, when I opened my car door to the chatter of birds that was so intense you couldn't hardly hear yourself talk. I stepped out of the car and began to look around. When I turned around, the neighborhood trees and power lines were full of them. I am guessing that my little corner of the world is in their migration path. It was made even more awesome, because when my son shut his car door after getting out this morning, about 1/2 of those birds whooshed up in the air creating an amazing spectacle of birds almost blacking out the sky as they lifted off. It really was something like you would see on television. My head is still swimming with the sight of all of those birds taking flight.
Thursday, March 14, 2013
Spring Break and Wizard World Comic Con
YAY! I purchased tickets for me and the boys to attend next Saturday's St. Louis Wizard World Comic Con 2013! It is a 3 day event, but we don't have the money to attend all three days. But we are super duper excited about the one day that we do get to attend! Here is a link: Comic Con
I am sure you will hear more an more about it as it gets closer -- and then after we attend! I am bringing my camera, of course. There are some HUGE stars attending this event -- Stan Lee is one of my favs. But the biggest draw for my family is Jason David Frank, or as he used to be known Tommy Oliver on the Power Rangers!
Also -- today was the last day of school before Spring Break! I think going to our first ever Comic Con is a fitting event for my son's senior Spring Break! He is spending the night at a friend's house. My other son is enjoying being the only child at home tonight. Tomorrow, while they all sleep in, I am babysitting for a friend so her boys can enjoy their first day of Spring Break 2013 by sleeping in also -- instead of going to day care. I love them as if they were my own family -- and the only live a few blocks away. It is all very good!
I am sure you will hear more an more about it as it gets closer -- and then after we attend! I am bringing my camera, of course. There are some HUGE stars attending this event -- Stan Lee is one of my favs. But the biggest draw for my family is Jason David Frank, or as he used to be known Tommy Oliver on the Power Rangers!
Also -- today was the last day of school before Spring Break! I think going to our first ever Comic Con is a fitting event for my son's senior Spring Break! He is spending the night at a friend's house. My other son is enjoying being the only child at home tonight. Tomorrow, while they all sleep in, I am babysitting for a friend so her boys can enjoy their first day of Spring Break 2013 by sleeping in also -- instead of going to day care. I love them as if they were my own family -- and the only live a few blocks away. It is all very good!
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Random Musings
I have neglected this blog. I don't really have a reason, other than it just hasn't been my priority. Sad, because I do so enjoy it. SO I am going to try to do better.
So much going on. A new Pope as of today. My oldest child is a senior in high school. My step-daughter had a baby in February - and I still haven't seen him! So many world events come and gone, and time just keeps tripping along. It reminds me of the soap opera that used to begin something like -- like the grains of sand in the hour glass ... Time just slips away if you let it.
So what have I been doing? Well, I have a little side business going. eBay baby! I have found a way to play with the toys I love -- Barbies, Topper Dawn Dolls, LIV dolls, baby dolls, an a wide assortment of other kid toys -- and then turn them for a profit. I have been doing it for close to a year now -- and I am in the groove. I make enough money to have some of the things that we love, but other wise couldn't afford -- like cell phones (no, none of us have smart phones) and Direct TV. Certainly not getting rich, but it does keep me busy, and often entertained as well. I am learning things about what sells and what doesn't. How to display my items -- and I have learned about toys in general. I am a regular at several area thrift stores, and I seldom pass a toy store that I don't go in to check for great clearance items that I can turn a profit on, or just to do research.
You can't imagine how time consuming it can be to find the name of that certain toy you found that looks so fun, but you have no earthly idea what it is! You can often kind me skulking yup and down the aisles of Toys R Us trying to figure out the name of something so I can best resale it! I have even been known to snap a photo or two of sets of Barbie items when I have most of the pieces, but not so sure about what goes with what!
I am also scrap booking often. I have found that my multiple health problems have affected my memory and my concentration. I can't read like I used to -- I find it too frustrating. I have never been a big TV girl, so that is kind of out too. I don't have the stamina that I used to have -- and even when I do, pain flares often prevent me from doing things that I enjoyed in the past -- like taking really long walks. So now I have shelves of scrap books! Since I routinely hit thrift stores, big sales, estate sales -- and yard sales when they are in season -- I have been able to scrap for less! I have enjoyed this hobby for several years now -- about 15 -- and have learned to do it on a dime.
Another benefit of the eBay thing is that my family enjoys larger wardrobes than they have ever had! I have become superwoman of clothes buying. Buying for me is super easy, because I wear a common size. Buying clothes for the boys is a bit more challenging because they are tall -- very tall, and kind of picky about what they wear. But I still manage to routinely find them things that are like new and sometimes brand new for often just a few cents, and never more than a couple of dollars. My favorite place to shop for clothes is a local thrift store that has weekly sales in order to clear out old merchandise. So once a week, the old stuff gets marked .25 cents each or 5 for $1.00! I gotta tell you, not only do I sometimes find great clothes, but I get a lot of things for eBay that way -- as well as some coll things for the house and, well, for us too. Like the working atomic clock I snagged for .20 cents or the cool yellow plates that I paid .20 cents each for. Oh -- and the Barbie that I also paid .20 cents for and just sold for right around $15.
So now, you know my secrets. I am a sale-aholic. I don't think I am ready for a 12 step program yet, but there are sometimes when I look around my basement and realize that I need to spend a bit more time selling the things rather than accumulating!
One final thing -- here is a link to what I currently have for sale on eBay. It is ever-changing! Melinda's eBay link
So much going on. A new Pope as of today. My oldest child is a senior in high school. My step-daughter had a baby in February - and I still haven't seen him! So many world events come and gone, and time just keeps tripping along. It reminds me of the soap opera that used to begin something like -- like the grains of sand in the hour glass ... Time just slips away if you let it.
So what have I been doing? Well, I have a little side business going. eBay baby! I have found a way to play with the toys I love -- Barbies, Topper Dawn Dolls, LIV dolls, baby dolls, an a wide assortment of other kid toys -- and then turn them for a profit. I have been doing it for close to a year now -- and I am in the groove. I make enough money to have some of the things that we love, but other wise couldn't afford -- like cell phones (no, none of us have smart phones) and Direct TV. Certainly not getting rich, but it does keep me busy, and often entertained as well. I am learning things about what sells and what doesn't. How to display my items -- and I have learned about toys in general. I am a regular at several area thrift stores, and I seldom pass a toy store that I don't go in to check for great clearance items that I can turn a profit on, or just to do research.
You can't imagine how time consuming it can be to find the name of that certain toy you found that looks so fun, but you have no earthly idea what it is! You can often kind me skulking yup and down the aisles of Toys R Us trying to figure out the name of something so I can best resale it! I have even been known to snap a photo or two of sets of Barbie items when I have most of the pieces, but not so sure about what goes with what!
I am also scrap booking often. I have found that my multiple health problems have affected my memory and my concentration. I can't read like I used to -- I find it too frustrating. I have never been a big TV girl, so that is kind of out too. I don't have the stamina that I used to have -- and even when I do, pain flares often prevent me from doing things that I enjoyed in the past -- like taking really long walks. So now I have shelves of scrap books! Since I routinely hit thrift stores, big sales, estate sales -- and yard sales when they are in season -- I have been able to scrap for less! I have enjoyed this hobby for several years now -- about 15 -- and have learned to do it on a dime.
Another benefit of the eBay thing is that my family enjoys larger wardrobes than they have ever had! I have become superwoman of clothes buying. Buying for me is super easy, because I wear a common size. Buying clothes for the boys is a bit more challenging because they are tall -- very tall, and kind of picky about what they wear. But I still manage to routinely find them things that are like new and sometimes brand new for often just a few cents, and never more than a couple of dollars. My favorite place to shop for clothes is a local thrift store that has weekly sales in order to clear out old merchandise. So once a week, the old stuff gets marked .25 cents each or 5 for $1.00! I gotta tell you, not only do I sometimes find great clothes, but I get a lot of things for eBay that way -- as well as some coll things for the house and, well, for us too. Like the working atomic clock I snagged for .20 cents or the cool yellow plates that I paid .20 cents each for. Oh -- and the Barbie that I also paid .20 cents for and just sold for right around $15.
So now, you know my secrets. I am a sale-aholic. I don't think I am ready for a 12 step program yet, but there are sometimes when I look around my basement and realize that I need to spend a bit more time selling the things rather than accumulating!
One final thing -- here is a link to what I currently have for sale on eBay. It is ever-changing! Melinda's eBay link
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