April 2010 – deeperrin.com

Hard To Imagine

Published by dee on April 28, 2010

I first heard this song played live in 1998 in Knoxville, TN. We road tripped from Maryville to Knoxville – my ex-husband, his best friend, my best friend, and myself. To this day, that trip, and especially the night of the concert, remains one of the best memories I have during that time in my life. Everything about it was just perfect.

There are two 8×10 framed photos that hang over my guitars, snapshots of Pearl Jam on stage. They were taken by my friend, who was lucky enough to snag one 3rd row seat for the show. They aren’t the best shots in the world, but they are reminders of a happy time.

My friend and I got out the scissors and glue and made a sign for the friend sitting in the 3rd row to hold up that simply said “Patriot” in hopes that we could get the band to play it. When Eddie acknowledged our sign during the show (though they didn’t play our song), it was an incredible feeling.

A lot of people don’t get my connection to Pearl Jam, but my love for them has remained strong over the years. In a way, they have provided the soundtrack to my life, well at least since the teen years. Each song connects me to a memory, a piece of my life, moments of joy and heartbreak.

Hard To Imagine has kind of become my song over the years. It can mean different things to me at different times in my life. I’ve put meaning into this song that I doubt anyone else would ever understand. When I listen to it, I feel every note, almost as if it is a part of me. It would totally rock my socks if they played it Monday night, when I’ll be standing before them once again listening to pieces of my life float by.

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iheartfaces – Smiles

Published by dee on April 26, 2010

This week’s iheartfaces photo challenge theme is “Smiles.” One of my favorite things about photography is being able to capture a genuine smile. I get lots of forced cheesy looking grins from my kids, but when I capture a true smile born from happiness the photo usually becomes a favorite. There’s just something so energizing when you can see the joy pouring out of a photo.

This last weekend we celebrated my nephew Brayden’s 3rd birthday. His parents scored a great deal on this Power Wheels motorcycle and boy was he excited to receive it! I have a feeling he’ll be spending a lot of time outside this summer!

Need a little happiness in your day? Go check out all the other smile photos at iheartfaces!

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I'm Only Blue When The Sox Aren't In Town

Published by dee on April 22, 2010

After all the posting I did last week, I’m not feeling too wordy but I am feeling the pressure to get something new up here. I was playing around with making collages a few days ago to enter in the iheartfaces challenge this week, but never was satisfied enough with any of them to actually use them. However, you all get to see one of my masterpieces now.

These are some of the pics I took at the Red Sox/Royals game we went to a couple weeks ago. After checking out the ticket prices, we opted to leave Evie with my sister (way beyond the freebie height cut-off now) and just take Zach to the game. I think he enjoyed the Mommy/Daddy time without his annoying little sister around to steal the show. Well, that and the peanuts, snow cone, and nachos! Now, if I could just get convince him to cheer for the right team…

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A Girl and Her Cat

Published by dee on April 16, 2010

During my last year of college I worked at a group home for developmentally disabled adults. While there were no pets allowed in the house, there were two cats that sort of adopted the porch. Eventually these two cats had a litter of kittens. They were the most beautiful kittens I had ever seen and the first I had ever seen only hours after they were born. There were only three in the litter and I had plans to keep two of them – one for me and one for my mom. A co-worker was going to keep the third one.

The momma cat eventually started weaning the kittens and we decided it was about time for them to be taken to their respective homes. I was heading home that weekend, so I had planned to take my two little furballs with me. Unfortunately, either the momma cat or the baby kittens had other plans. They disappeared the day before I was supposed to take them home. We have no idea where they went. They were just gone and I was devastated.

Not long after that, a co-worker and I were taking a group on an outing. We had the van loaded up and just as we started pulling out of the driveway, we saw this little puff of white moving around in the grass. We got out of the van to check it out and there stood the cutest little Siamese kitten. I’ve always had a thing for Siamese cats and this little guy was just too cute. He came right up to me and snuggled up in my arms. My co-worker convinced me that it was a sign and that I should take him home.

That night he was officially named Pedro (anyone want to guess where that came from?) and he’s been with me ever since. He was my “baby” before I ever had any human babies of my own and he has certainly seen me through some rough times in my life. He always just seems to know when I’m feeling down and I’ve cried into his fur more times than I can count.

I guess that’s why it is so touching to me to see Evie really connecting to our animals, and especially to Pedro. She absolutely loves Pedro. If she spots him you can bet that she’s petting or hugging him. She walks around asking “Where Pedro at?” She loves him, just as I have for all these years.

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Aaachooooo!

Published by dee on April 15, 2010

Our pear tree in full bloom

While I really, truly, with all my heart, LOVE Spring, my head does not. Allergies have gotten the best of me over the last couple of weeks. I’ve been a bit cranky and a lot tired and that combination just isn’t a good one. I take Zyrtec year-round for allergies which does help, but when Spring really hits it just doesn’t hold up. My throat gets scratchy, my eyes itch like crazy, and my nose is either running or sneezing 24/7. Plus, my entire body is just tired from trying to fight it. Sounds pleasant, doesn’t it?

The really bad part is that allergy season hits hard right around the same time that Hubby’s work picks up for the year. In his line of work winters are slow and there is little work to be done so he ends up with a lot more free time. Dinner is usually on the table when I get home with the kids and we have fairly relaxed evenings. Then, when we finally get a little bit of a heat wave in the Spring, things pick up and he’s suddenly working 11-hour days. Not only does it wear him out, but it changes our whole evening routine because he gets home later. I can barely get the kids fed and bathed before it is time for them to go to bed, much less fit in any extras.

The combination of allergy season (for me) and busy work season (for Hubby) can make for a not very pleasant household. Both of us get a little more snippy with each other and with the kids. The fun part is that I know it is coming every single year, yet it still seems to take me by surprise. And every year it takes me a while to figure out why everyone in my house is so darn cranky. Oh, yeah!

This too shall pass. I have to get myself back into the summer routine, which includes making sure we have supplies ready for our favorite quick-fix meals (which means I have to get to the grocery store on the weekends) and relaxing a little if the kids don’t quite get to bed on time. It also means I need to cut Hubby some slack and remind myself that I’m not always the easiest person to live with.

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Sunny Bliss

Published by dee on April 14, 2010

The weather in Kansas City has been just absolutely beautiful over the last few days. Even with my insane allergies, I can’t help but want to be outside. The temps have been hovering in the 70-80 range and the sun has been shining. Flowers are blooming, the grass is getting greener, and it is just beautiful all around. This is why Spring is my favorite season of the year. If I weren’t so dang tired from the allergy meds I have to take to survive, I would be so motivated right now. Weather definitely affects my moods and Spring has always been my time to shine.

This past weekend I got the opportunity to have my two youngest nephews over to spend the night. My sister, her husband, and my oldest nephew were headed to Joplin for a school competition Friday night so they dropped the younger boys off on the way. I got to pretend like I was the mommy for four kids and boy was it a lot of work! Actually it wasn’t so bad. The kids are all so close in age that they pair off and play really well together.

Saturday morning, after some Wii time and my run, I put them all to work cleaning up the sticks in the yard so Hubby could mow. They did pretty well until they started getting bored (we have a BIG yard!). After that, they played outside for a bit until I suddenly realized they were all getting really cranky and that it was well after lunch time. Oops!

After lunch, naps, and a little quiet time (where I escaped for a bit to sit on the front porch, paint my toe nails, and read my book) they were all ready to go again. We headed back outside for more play time and Hubby made some snow cones for everyone.

Then it was time for a little t-ball! I was actually pretty impressed with how well my nephews hit the ball. The only problem was that the four kids fought over the two balls and two bats that we have. Everyone wanted to have their own because apparently sharing just isn’t as much fun.

After dinner, baths, and tucking everyone in for the night, I was pretty wiped out. Unfortunately, there was still laundry to fold and it really couldn’t be put off since we had a full day coming at us Sunday too. My sister picked her sleeping boys up a little after 10:00 and soon after that I was passed out in my bed.

Even though it exhausted me, I had a lot of fun with the kids. I really had fun playing outside and enjoying the sunshine. We’re supposed to have sunshine all week and I’m soaking it up!

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Month: April 2010

Hard To Imagine

iheartfaces – Smiles

I'm Only Blue When The Sox Aren't In Town

A Girl and Her Cat

Aaachooooo!

Sunny Bliss