Writing

Milo
Originally uploaded by SarahJames.

I was thinking today that I might like to write a childrens book. I could probably illustrate it too. I read a quote today that said "an author is someone who wrote today." I like it because it makes me think that anyone can be an author and everything I write doesn't have to be at the publishing level, just some food for thought.
Went home for a holiday weekend BBQ today. Matt and I brought Norah with us and we had a grand old time. She was a big hit with the family, charming them all with her good looks.
I just realized that I haven't posted a picture of Milo on here yet since I just figured out how to do it.
Here he is....

Norah James

Norah James
Originally uploaded by SarahJames.

Welcome to the newest member of the James family!

Obsession with multitasking

I was reading the blogs of Matt's Mom and Aunt and I started thinking about the things they were writing about. Both of them say that they have a problem with starting something and not finishing it. I have this problem as well, but the more I got to thinking about it I realized that my problem goes even deeper.
About a week ago I told my mom that I would help her sort through our family photos (they were in complete disarray). She got frustrated with them after she took them out of the old magnetic albums and make an attempt at sorting them out. She called me after a few days and said "they're yours! Do what you want with them!" I excitedly took on the project because I love to make things organized. The albums arrived last Friday and as of right now, they are all organized and put in the correct albums.
The whole reason this organization started was because I need some baby pictures for the wedding slideshow that Matt and I are creating. Little did I know what I was asking for!
All I NEEDED to do was sort through them, pick out the ones that I wanted, give some to my father, and then scan a selection for the wedding. What do I do? I do all of the above and then I volunteer to scan them all into my computer and burn them to CD so that we can all have a back up of the family photos (my cousin recently lost hers in a fire). Well, it sounds like a good idea until I realized how long it would take. I don't mind putting in the time and the energy, but what do I go and do then? I put a time limit on myself! I say "well, I should get these done by Sunday so I can take them home for the BBQ." Ok, that goal is do-able with my time limits. I still have to clean and work, but it can be done.
Yesterday, Matt and I went to the Bangor Humane Society to look at the cats. I picked out a calico kitten and we named her Norah. She will be coming home tomorrow (she is having her surgery today). So what do I think? I think "since she is coming home tomorrow and I will want to spend a lot of time with her so I should get all these albums (about 10 of them) scanned into the computer so I will have time for her."
Now why do I think that way? There is no hurry for these albums! My mom would understand if I couldn't bring them this weekend! Heck, she even expects it! She wouldn't be even the least bit surprised if it took me another month to do them. But what do I do? I test the the limits of all the things I can fit into one day. I have visions of scanning all the photos early in the morning and then taking the computer with me to the laundromat so I can label and crop them while I wait for my laundry. I think about bringing the laptop to work so that I can do some there. I think about not spending any time with Matt so that I can get this project completed. I think I am becoming obsessed.
On the complete flip side, anything that is on my to-do list and would take less than a day to complete may remain there for months. I didn't get my oil changed in my car until it was at 8,000 miles, but at least I can scan a million pictures overnight!
My mom always says that she tries to enjoy the process. The process of doing something, not thinking about what you have to accomplish, not thinking about how much time you have, but enjoying the actual doing of the project.
I wish I could accept her advice and get my priorities straight! I write this as I am posting in between scanning my pictures. Maybe someday I will learn....

"Give Peas a Chance"

Last night Matt and I were sitting down to a nice dinner of pasta and green beans. Matt ate all of his pasta and then moved on to the steamed veggies (he doesn't want any of his food to touch so he eats them separately). After a couple of bites I notice that he is making a funny face. It is the classic pained face you would see on a 5 year old who doesn't want to eat his veggies. His chewing slows, he opens his mouth further, and he attempts to swallow them whole with a cup full of water. Who knew that eating healthy might kill the kid? Well, it came down to the last few green beans and he refused to eat them. I had to bargain with him by telling him that if he ate 5 more green beans I would give him some watermelon. I felt like a mom for the first time last night!
Despite his disdain for vegetables we will continue to eat healthier.

I am eagerly awaiting for noon to come because that is when the humane society opens. I am going to look at the cats and hopefully adopt a new addition to our family.

The 'Real world'

Matt and I are going through something interesting right now. Earlier in the spring a professor of his offered him a job paying 30K/yr and included benefits. He said "no, thank you" because he has a job. Well, this job is not allowing him to work 40 hours a week and is not giving him benefits. He won't listen to my reasoning because he is a very very nice person and doesn't want anyone to get upset with him. After a discussion with his sage father, he has decided that maybe it wasn't the best decision to turn it down. We are now in the process of evaluating the options. It is hard because at every new step Matt gets upset and worried about the future. He wants to think the best of everyone and I love that about him, but I tried to explain that this is business and he needs to cover his own butt. We'll see how it goes.

Update

Caroline-Dress
Originally uploaded by SarahJames.

Haven't written in a while..OOPS! I have been keeping myself busy with preparations for the wedding. I finished all of the pew bows, the cake topper, and designed the actual cake. I am trying to do everything as inexpensively as I can because it is just one day in my life. I think I will be happy when the wedding is over because then I can just enjoy being married to a wonderful man.
We both got up early this morning and I walked with him to work. I am going out again to meet him for lunch and then I have to go to work. I am thinking about renting the kids a movie for this afternoon because it is raining and they won't be able to play outside (makes them restless).
Had a wonderful dinner with Matt's family last night. We were celebrating his graduation from last weekend. His parents were very sweet and they gave him money which we are putting towards our rent/wedding. We are both very thankful to them and their support.
Caroline got to try on the practice dress my mom made her (she is the flower girl) and it feel pretty weel except for being a little too big. She is going to be a show stopper!
I would post a picture here, but I can't figure out how to. I will have Matt help me later.

FRUSTRATION!

It is probably not the best idea for my to be blogging right now because I am so annoyed, but maybe it will add flavor to my post.
I will start off by talking about my day and leading up to the cause of my frustration. Matt and I got up earlt because we had to drive to Orono and check out of our dorm room. When we got there it started to rain (while everyone was moving all their belongings out). Our apartment was empy except for two people. It was a disaster! We will be charged for any cleaning that needs to be done once we are gone ($30+ per hour). Matt and I did not want to pay to have someone else clean up the mess that was left so we stayed and attempted to clean some things up. There was dish soap all over the counter, food still in the fridge, and dirt EVERYWHERE. Mind you, Matt and I moved all of our things out of the apartment over a week ago. The people who were still living there apparently stopped cleaning up after themselves after we left. Anyway, needless to say, we got out of there later than anticipated and were, as always, running late. We were expected at Rachel and Chris's house between 10 and 11 for Caroline's birthday party and we still had to buy her a present!
We made the party on time (thankfully) and she seemed to like the purse and necklace we bought her.
On the way home our friend Fana called us and asked when we could come and get her plants from Orono. She is leaving for D.C. for the summer and needed someone to plant sit. I agreed, not knowing how many plants one person could have. When we got there the entire front room of her apartment was filled with the leafy greens that I was to be responsible for. Matt and I got all the little buggers into the car (it filled the trunk and back seat). We had to turn down the 5 foot palm tree since it wouldn't fit in the vehicle. She even gave us two large cups full of plant clippings that she hadn't had time to plant yet. I had to hold the cups on the ride home because they were full of water and I didn't want them to spill on the floor. Just so everyone knows, Stillwater is a BUMPY road and I ended up with water all over myself.
Matt and I made a pit stop at Home Depot to get some planting soil and a couple of pots so that all the clippings could have a place to live. I started to think that this plantsitting gig was causing a lot of trouble and costing me money!
We made it home with no big problems and got all of the foliage into the house. I (somehow) found a place for the numerous plants and we FINALLY got to sit down and relax. We started to watch the movie "Sideways" when my cell phone rang. It was Fana again.
She asked if Matt could come back to Orono and help her move out and take things to her storage unit. He agreed being the nice, helpful, considerate boy that he is. Fana called us at 6 PM. The last possible time she was to check out of the dorm was 5 PM. I should have smelled a fish right then.
Matt called me at 6:50 and said that the RD of the building came and told them they HAD to be gone by 7. I asked him if he had a lot left to do and he grumbled. He predicted that it would take at least another hour to get everything out. He was angry at her because she keeps trash in her room. She calls it recycling, but it really is trash. In Maine we don't recycle paper plates that have food on them but apparently they do where she lives. Fana has been collecting paper plates for the past four years we have been in college. She keeps them in her room during the school year and puts them in a storage unit during the summer. We have hauled them more times then I would like to count. She refuses to throw them away.
Matt called again at 8 to say that there is no way he will be home before 10! She is still putting all of her trash in bags and they haven't even made the first trip to the storage unit yet (it is 9).
We asked her where she intended to stay for the night (her bus leaves tomorrow) and she said "hmm...I am not sure yet...." AHHHHHHH! If it were me, I would have made arrangements a month ago! We offered to have her stay here (something I wish I had never said) and now that I am seething mad at her, she will be spending the night with us.
So much for my quiet afternoon at home with Matt!!!!!!!!

Yesterday

Yesterday was a very busy day for both of us. Matt went to work for 9 hours and I cleaned our apartment. There were still remnants of the previous occupant (including cat food under the fridge) and I wanted to get rid of it all. It took me a good 4 hours to clean EVERYTHING. Milo's cage got a good scrubbing and I even dusted the banister!
When Matt and I got home from work we were supposed to go to a BBQ that his professor was hosting. Matt intended to turn in his final reflection paper at the BBQ (not the best idea in my opinion) but he forgot to write the paper.....until 6:00 at night. Well, needless to say I spent an hour hanging around and waiting for him to finish the paper...getting more and more annoyed that he forgets everything....when finally he finishes at around 6:45. We head off to the BBQ and Matt turns in his paper. His professor says "we don't take those here!" and I am not sure if he was joking or not. He handed it in anyway and we left.
Matt was very quiet on the ride to campus and I asked him why. Lately the graduation thing has been getting to him and he feels disappointed. The big project he has been working on all year was not well received in the New Media community and he is heart broken. Poor Matt, I didn't know what to say to make him feel better. I hate the feeling that I get when there is nothing I can say or do to make him feel better. I love him so much that I don't want him to suffer in any way.
We got back to campus and moved out the rest of our belongings. All of our friends from school were going out to eat at Uno's as a graduation celebration. Matt and I were both feeling like we needed to get out and have some fun. Dinner was nice and Matt indulged in 4 glasses of Pepsi (I had Bailey's). Then, just as dessert came for those who ordered it, Matt fell asleep at the table. He had been up since 6 and was very tired (regardless of the Pepsi), so I took him home and put him to bed.
Overall we were very productive and Matt is still dealing with his sad feelings about graduating.
HAPPY 2ND BIRTHDAY TO OUR NEICE CAROLINE!!!

Weight Watchers

I probably should have called this blog "Weight Watcher" instead. I am a member of the online weight watchers group and I was just there catching up on the forums. I love to read what other people discover about the best way for them to lose weight. It makes me feel like there is hope for me.
I was watching Oprah the other day and she said "You are fat because you don't think you are worthy." At first I didn't think about it because the statement was in regards to a 400lb woman on her show. Later that night I started thinking...am I fat because I don't think I am worthy? The more I thought it over I believe this statement to be true. I have mediocre self esteem and some days are worse then others. I think that eating is a way to "deal" with those down times.
I am trying to turn over a new leaf. Every morning I wake up and I say "I am worth it," then I start my day. I am sure that my wonderful fiance will tell me the same. He makes me feel worthy all the time. He is very sweet and supportive so I know that he will help me through this journey.
Wish me luck!

First Post

This is my first post on my new blog! Everyone in my family (mostly in-laws) have blogs and I felt left out! I titled it "Married Life" because this is what consumes most of my time lately. I am not married yet, but the day is fast approaching. July 16, 2005!! I am transforming from Miss Sarah Michaud to Mrs. Sarah James. I am very excited about this because I am in school to be a teacher and I will get to be Mrs. James for student teaching instead of Miss Michaud. It may seem like a small change but it is very important to me.
I am very happy about getting married, mostly because the man I am marrying is WONDERFUL. He is more than I had ever hoped for and it took me nearly 2 years to nab him :) He was worth the wait though. He is my one and only and I am very fortunate to have found him at such a young age.
We have recently moved into a new apartment where we will spend our first year of marraige. Every night one of us comments on how happy we are to have our own home. It seems complete with Me, Matt, and our "son" Milo the rabbit.