It's Been a Tense Morning Around Here...

Having weathered the storm, and having gotten power back - we decided to venture out in search of breakfast.
(I didn't feel like facing the fridge/freezer to determine if stuff was or was not safe to eat after being without power all night...)

We took a slight detour to check out Cabbagetown, and it was hit much harder than I would have imagined. Downtown is getting virtually all of the media coverage - and to a degree I suspect that is due to a bunch of journalists being down there to cover the SEC March Madness stuff, kind of like the huge LA earthquake that coincided with the World Series many, many years back.

So - it was a little bit shocking to see just how hard Cabbagetown was hit, and it really reinforced just how fickle tornadoes can be. There would be houses that were utterly devastated next to homes that suffered nary a scratch.

We then went and had a leisurely breakfast. Sigh. I might have been a bit cranky due to not much sleep last night, but it seems that wasn't anything that couldn't be fixed by a big cup of grits and a country ham biscuit. (Yup, I'm a Southern pup through and through...)

We returned home to have several worried sounding voice mails - "Where are you? There's supposed to be another tornado between 1 and 1:15! We hope you're somewhere safe. If you get this message, you need to get somewhere safe and soon!"

A quick look at the clock informed us that it was 12:50. We needed to figure out what was going on and where. We spent a tense 45 minutes or so glued to the television, where we found much normal programming set aside in order to cover the storms. To make a long story short, there were some horrible storms, but all north of us. I do hope that everyone out there fared as well as we did last night...

Seems all storms have left the area and/or have dissipated. And I don't know about y'all, but I am wore out.

And I am so, so, so thankful that Bubba and Schecky's camping trip got canceled for this weekend! I can't even imagine how frantic I would be if we hadn't all been together....
(and it goes without saying that I would like to take back any and all crabbing that I may have done when I learned that their trip was canceled! I am no longer mourning the loss of my "all alone" weekend, and it seems petty and small that I felt that way at all!)

And let me reiterate just how grateful I am to all the people who called us, and all who emailed to inquire as to how we were. I'm feeling awful loved today....

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Some Cabbagetown pictures:

What A Long Strange Week It's Been...

In which I attempt to briefly explain where I've been...
"Briefly" - Ha! Who's the wordiest girl in town???

Feel free to skip today's offering, and come back another day when the knitting* and cooking and reading, etc. will (hopefully) resume...

---

It all started on Saturday, over a week ago. Through sheer stupidity and general all-purpose house-keeping ineptness, I managed to chemical burn my hands. The left hand, not so badly. The right one, I'd say was about 70% covered with burns, blisters and ick.

Peh.

Haven't I warned you all that I'm really, really, really not good at being a homemaker?

Let's just say that I obviously skipped the part in the big old Martha Stewart book that explicitly stated that I should wear gloves before attempting to bleach down the entire front of the house.
Did I already mention that my stupidity played a huge role in this?

So - I'm pretty much worthless for days. I can't knit, I can't write, I can't type, I can't use my hands for anything - basically, all I can do is sit around and dwell on how stupid it was/I am.
The only thing I hate worse than a painful injury is one which is both painful and stupid. I don't think you get much sympathy for those.

And sleeping? Well, that wasn't happening. Stupid swollen hand kept me up Saturday/Sunday/Monday and Tuesday nights. Peh somemore...

Wednesday: Should have gotten some sleep, but didn't. See, it was getting to be time for the big yearly neighborhood festival - and I was charged with hosting the kickoff party on Thursday night, for all the neighborhood kids. And I'm a worrier and a fretter. So not much sleep happened. Got about 3 hours.

Thursday: the party went off (yay!) despite having to move it to a new location with less than 6 hours notice. Stupid rain!
It's difficult to move a party for 150+ kids, but it all turned out OK in the end. But it took forever to get the party broken down, and then I was all wired from it all.
And - you see where this is going - not much sleeping happened.

Friday: I made an interesting discovery. When you get too sleep deprived, it's kind of like being drunk. But not the cute and fun kind of tipsy you might hope for.
Nope - this was the vaguely nauseous kind of drunk feeling. The kind where you know the party should have ended a few hours ago, and it's gone on too long, and it's probably not going to end well...

And, all groggy and loopy, I went to meet my friend The Caretaker for breakfast. He was stopping off in town on his way to visit his folks in another part of Georgia.
He's one of my absolute favorite people on the planet. And I've not seen him in over a year and a half.

And bless his heart, he sat down and ate breakfast with my sad, incoherent, drooling self.

I suspect I told him the same stories multiple times. He managed to not look bored. He politely didn't point out that I literally had the shakes as I reached for my first Diet Coke of the morning. He kindly figured out the math on the check when I couldn't wrap my brain around how much was 20% for the tip. (Admittedly, I'm not the biggest math whiz at the best of times. But I can figure a tip. Usually...) I get the feeling that my half of the conversation sounded something like this:

aggle aggle aggle gak!

And this, of course, is how I *entered* Festival Weekend. Which is always a weekend of nothing but fun and a departure from my real life. This year was no exception...





Just a few photos, to give you the flavor of the weekend.
It's a crazy couple of days...
(I wore my tiara the whole time.)

---

And of course, the whole thing with Schecky's poem making it onto BoingBoing? That was exciting beyond all belief. I had no idea...

Thank you to everyone who read it and had nice things to say. Schecky was just thrilled to pieces that people read his poem, and that they responded positively to it...

I'm awfully fond of my boy, Scheck. He's a good egg**...

---

Which brings me to this week - I am frantically playing the "catch up" game. I keep trying to remind myself that I can't just take more than a full week off from my life, and expect to be all caught up in a day. Yet, impatiently, that is exactly what I want to happen!

So, I'm baby-stepping through my poor neglected house (the laundry! Sweet Cracker Sandwich, you wouldn't believe the mess around here...), the poor neglected email, the poor neglected blog-sphere...

It's been a rollercoaster ride around here - so I suppose a return to normalcy is due. Knitting, reading, cooking should all resume shortly...

xo!

---

*Remember the knitting? How I used to at least attempt to be a crafty girl? Yeah, I almost don't either...

**He and I love this site....

Saying "Thank You" Is More Than Good Manners - It Is Good Spirituality...

I have been making a concerted effort lately to be more grateful, more appreciative, of the people and privileges that I am fortunate enough to have in my life.

Trying to take less for granted - because it is all too easy to get wrapped up in the whirling carnival that is modern-day life; all too easy to forget to say "Thank You"; all too easy to ignore just how lucky I really am.

On a day like today, when my heart just aches for the parents of the Virginia Tech students - that lesson really hits home. The people that we have in our lives should never be taken for granted...

Today, I held Schecky just a little tighter when I picked him up at school. Today, I remember to really listen when Bubba is telling me about his day, giving him my full and undivided attention. Today, I redouble my effort to tell the universe "Thank You"...

---

And as I sat in front of the keyboard, struggling with how to express how important this need to say thank you is, and how to do so without sounding maudlin, I heard the sound of the postman's footsteps on the porch.

And in the strange and mysterious way in which the world works - there was a package for me in the mail's daily offering...

The incredibly sweet and thoughtful MéLisa had selected me to be the recipient of a Calculated Act of Kindness... And in the mail was the most darling chickdee card (and you know how I feel about chickadees!) and the most perfect black and white headband...



Thank you, MéLisa. Thank you so very, very much...
This sweet gesture has touched me more than I can adequately express today...

Thoughtfulness and Generosity - All Packaged In A Gorgeous Basket...

A wise man once said that the best kind of gratification is delayed gratification...

OK, actually - that's crap. I just made that up to try and excuse how long it's taken me to get to this post!

If good intentions counted for anything, well... then I'd have lots of whatever it counts for. Lots of good intentions around here the last week. Lots of good intentions, and not as much follow-through...

I find myself in an odd space... maybe it's Spring Fever? But I find myself starting to wonder if perhaps I am spending too much time following the lives and craftiness of others, and not focusing enough on my own.
I'm managing to take care of all the day in, day out stuff that life needs- but it seems there's not enough time for the "extras". I want more time for knitting and creating. More time for reading books again. More time to finish up on the great decluttering project of 2007. I'm craving the "extras" these days...

I'm not going to say I'm taking a full-out break... Let's face it - how many times have you read on someone's blog that they're going to take a little break? Sometimes it happens, and sometimes they're back 36 hours later -- more prolific than ever!
(Which, selfishly I kind of always cheer for! I miss my favorite bloggers when they go on a hiatus!)

So, no - I'm not announcing an official break. But don't be surprised or worried if I seem to be more quiet than usual. I might not be stopping by your blog as frequently, but I'll still be stopping by. I might not be posting as much here, or commenting as much out there* - but I'm still going to be around. Still blogging, still reading and commenting - but trying to examine my own life a bit more...
(guess it all goes back to the "Doing What I Can, When I Can, and In A Way That Makes Me Happy" thing...)

Now onto the GOOD STUFF!

---

I've got my camera back - so I can share the loveliness that is my goodie basket from Daisy and Cookie's Big Weekend o' Fun!



Have you ever seen so much thoughtfulness packaged up so nicely?
(You can click on the picture to see it larger at Flickr - and see notes on what all there is!)



And did you check out Wee Bunny's face? Isn't he the cutest? I just want to eat him up.

And this:



I had actually seen this over at Creative Little Daisy - and thought it was beautiful, but I knew it wasn't for me. 'Cause I'm the Queen of Can't Sew.

But you know what? I do use needles** - when I put together a little bear, or when I did the face on SmittenKitten! So I have loved having this gorgeous case to put my needles in. Also - there is a little pocket on the inside cover, which is so clever. I've got lots of leftover strands of embroidery floss (you know, from when you use only two of the six strands, or somesuch) and the pocket is lovely for stashing all those leftover bits!

So, yes - I am horribly remiss in how long it took to get the post up...
But seriously, this kind of fabulousity? Worth the wait...

---

*I have long suspected that I am a far better commenter than I am an actual blogger...

**Oooh - that makes me sounds all dark and damaged and stuff, doesn't it?

In Which I Inadequately Attempt to Describe My Weekend...

Frequent are the times in which I wish that I were a far better writer. It is, I would imagine, so very satisfying to be able to capture emotions and feelings accurately - in a way in which the reader is able to immediately, effortlessly grasp what it is you are trying to convey.

Unfortunately, I'm finding that I am having a very difficult time this morning - I've started this post 3 separate times, and then gotten frustrated and deleted it in a snit of disappointment.

I am learning that it is very, very difficult to express a very fun and positive experience without sounding gushy.
Or somewhat simple-minded.
Or - even worse - insincere.

So - that having been said, I'm apologizing in advance - because I'm probably going to sound gushy. And even more simple-minded than usual. But I'm digging my heels in for a fourth attempt, and - for better or worse - this one's staying.

I just hope it doesn't sound insincere.
'Cause I mean every last word...

---

Daisy and Cookie's Big Weekend of Fun???
Was FABULOUS!

I. had. the. best. time.

You could not ask for a more welcoming, inviting and charming family with which to hang out for the weekend. Truly, a lovely, lovely time.

It's funny - as the weekend drew closer and closer, I started getting a wee bit nervous and fretsome.

For starters, all the "jokes" that Bubba was making about how Autum going to kidnap me and keep me in a pit and fatten me up so she could make a purse out of me? Yeah - those got not funny in a hurry. I know, I know - he was just worried about my safety, etc. However, these wildly exaggerated worries of Bubba's paved the way for more realistic worries in my mind...

What if I got there and we didn't like each other?
What if we had nothing to say and just stared at each other awkwardly for the entire time?
What if? What if? What if?

Then I gave myself a mental "Snap out of it!" - ala Moonstruck.

Sometimes you've just got to take a leap of faith, trust your instincts, and do something that might take you out of your comfort zone.

And hopefully, it will turn out as positively as my weekend at Autum's.

Oh - we had big plans! We were going to craft, we were going to take pictures, we were going to craft some more, we were going to...

Well - let me tell you what we did do...

We talked.
And talked.
And talked and talked and talked. About everything and anything. Stuff important and trivial. You already know from Creative Little Daisy how articulate and thoughtful she is - she's also wicked funny, and smart. The conversation just flowed and flowed...

The house was toured - and it is every bit as beautiful as it looks in Autum's wonderful photographs.

There was much petting of small dogs, and large cats.

There was good eating - oh my word, such hospitality...
We went out for great Mexican food. We feasted on a breakfast casserole that Autum's sweet Aunt Mary brought over. And there was cake. There was an amazingly wonderful cake that I wish I had a huge hunk of right this very second now. (And yes, I realize that it's still breakfast time, and I don't care!)

And still there was talking throughout it all.

I think the only time that there wasn't non-stop talking was when we settled in for the night and watched Grey's Anatomy before retiring. And even then, there was still some talking. (Which would shock Bubba, because around here the rule is NO TALKING DURING GREY'S!)

So - yes. It was a lovely weekend.
I know the Internet is filled with horrible "I met this person via the internet, so we met in real life and it was a nightmare" stories. So, I thought that y'all might be happy to read an account of a meeting that ended happily.

No matter how awkwardly written...

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END NOTE: I know, I know - those of you who have gotten this far are thinking "What the...??? Where are the pictures? We wanted pictures! Grrrr..." And I don't blame you. I always want pictures too.

However...

There are a few reasons why there are no pictures.

1. I didn't take my camera this weekend.
   Bubba and Schecky took it to Space Camp for their "Boy's Weekend" Trip.
   
   
2. I'm not sure how many pictures Autum has, either.
   We seriously spent practically the entire visit just chat, chat, chatting. And forgot about cameras entirely.
   I think that maybe Autum's daughter snapped a few photos as we dawdled over the breakfast table??? I'm sure that I have egg on my chin and my mouth wide open from talking in everyone of them, though... so I'm not so sure that these should ever see the light of day...
   
   
3. There are no pictures of the scarf that I made for Autum.
   Because I am a moron, and forgot to take any pictures before I went. That's the only explanation for that.
   
   But you all saw the start of the scarf here.
   (And wasn't that all sly of me? Pretty sneaky, sis...)
   
   
4. There are no pictures of the huge, ginormous basket of loveliness that was awaiting me at Autum's.
   Because Bubba still has the camera. Although, I'll get it back at some point, and will take pictures then. I've got to tell you, though, I am dying to dig into the basket and play with all my goodies - but am trying to show restraint because everything is so artfully arranged, and I'll never get it looking as nice again!
   

Bloggers are Just Nicer Than the Average Bear...

I've suspected this for quite some time - but I've decided to make it official. Bloggers are just nicer, more thoughtful (and more thought-provoking!) than the average person.
Remember, you read it here first! :)

Thank you so very much for your sweet comments, and the emails that you sent, in response to the last post that I made... I feel so lucky to be part of a community of such generous, and kind, people.

---

Keeping that in mind - the general niceness and good-to-be-aroundness of the bloggers I've encountered - I've got the perfect segue into the non-sucky part of my laughably annoying day last week.

Yes, as I've alluded, it wasn't all trial and tribulations... Between my boring morning meetings, and my afternoon of auguring and plunging - I had a delightful lunch date with Amy, from 3 To Get Ready.

I had a lovely time. This was our second get-together, and I had every bit as much fun as I did the first time (I would have said that I had more fun, but I am not sure that's possible!)

Amy graciously allowed me to choose the venue, and I immediately chose The Flying Biscuit because I was craving grits something fierce (and their grits are fab! I might even smack my mama if I thought it would get me a bowl of them!)

Amy, her charming daughter Hattie and I chatted, and giggled like a bunch of schoolgirls! Once again, excellent company and excellent food. A very nice way to spend an afternoon....

And I really appreciate the tactful way in which Amy and Hattie ignored me when I did my "Randy, how does the piggy eat" impersonation in my attempt to get every last grit out of the bowl. Can't help it - those grits are seriously, seriously that good...

Amy comes into my neck of the woods ever-so-often to get her hair cut, and I'm already looking forward to the her next appointment! And, Amy - I'll let you pick the restaurant next time!

---

Also on my list of things that I am just totally looking forward to? I've got an upcoming trip planned to the wilds of North Carolina to spend a crafty, girly weekend with Autum of Creative Little Daisy!

Autum was the first person that I didn't know from "real life" to comment on Bad Fortune Cookie over a year ago. I guess it's true that you always remember your first???
Over the past year, I've been truly amazed at Autum's many, many talents. She creates the most gorgeous things with her sewing machine, has such a knack for interior design (maybe she got my share of that gene, because goodness knows I don't have any of that!) and has just the biggest, most generous heart.

So I am thrilled that we're going to get to meet in real life... I predict a fun weekend filled with giggling, and craftiness! And I just can't wait!
Hee - Daisy and Cookie's Big Weekend o' Fun - coming up soon...

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And since I've been subjecting y'all lately to my latest passion for cute and small food - I can't finish up this post without sharing this:




One perfect, tiny, happy little jelly doughnut.

It's hard to get a true sense of scale, since it's sitting on a salad plate next to a stupidly large cup - but it's about the size of a persimmon? (Upon re-reading that I have to question how helpful that is. Does anyone really know the size of the persimmons that used to grow in my backyard in Tennessee? Probably not. Let's see - the jelly doughnut was smaller than a golf ball, but bigger than a quarter...)
I guess that technically, it's a doughnut hole, or a Munchkin, or whatever you want to call it. But I'd never seen a doughnut hole with filling before, so of course I had to give it a try.

Found the darling little doughnut at Happy Donuts in East Atlanta. It's no Krispy Kreme* (but really, what else is?) but I'd still recommend it. It felt like a neighborhood doughnut shop, and I liked that. Plus, the tiny doughnut? Very, very tasty...

(Upon re-reading this entire post, I have to marvel at the fact that I don't have scurvy. Since this blog makes it seem as if I eat nothing but nutritionally-devoid breakfast foods....)

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*As an aside - there was an article in the paper about Krispy Kreme's new whole wheat doughnut. I was telling Bubba about it, and he asked if Shecky and I were going to try them. I believe that my exact reply was "what's the point?"

But I blame that conversation for planting the whole idea of doughnuts in my head today. An idea which stuck like a big shiny diamond....

Hello... My Name Is Crazy

I'm trying to stop whining about how cold I am all the time. I know that other people have it far, far colder.
(Like poor Jen and MéLisa! I shivered just reading these...)

And I'm tired of griping about this horribleness that has settled into my sinuses, and shows no sign of going anywhere. I'm not the only girl with the plague, I know that.
(although, it's really difficult to stick to my "quit whining" resolution when the horribleness has settled right on top of my gums, and is giving me a toothache of epic proportions...)

And I've not really talked about how sick the little Scheckster has been lately. There are a lot of sick lil 'uns about, so it's not really worthy of reporting. He headed back to school today, box of Kleenex in this little backpack... He looked kind of small, and definitely snuffly.

However, all these things - even if I'm not really talking about them - have melded together with the bazillionth overcast day in a row and are responsible for a little touch of Seasonal Affective Disorder.

Bah.

I'm trying to beat it.

---

I'm in a weird sort of way today. More so than usual, even.

This has been building for a bit.
Seems like I've got all these things that I want/need to do, and I keep adding to the list - without ever getting anything knocked off. And, combined with all the stuff from the blathering above - I just find myself slightly off kilter. Not myself.

This morning, for example, I decided to stop and get breakfast out.
(Nothing like self medicating with carbs in the form of a delicious bagel...)
When the bagel guy asked for my name, I replied with a straight face "Buffy".

Wha...???
I have no idea where that came from. I'm not really the "give a fake name" type.
I must be delirious....

Back at home, I decided that today called for Pretty in Pink - the soundtrack has been playing all morning. I'm enjoying it, but it's not having the desired effect, somehow. Which is unusual, it's typically a sure-fire cure-all...

I keep eyeing the tiara - maybe that will restore order to the universe??? But I don't want...

---

Wait - stop the presses. As I was typing, I was interrupted by the doorbell. (sigh.)

The mailman. (hmmm.)

With a package. (hmmmm?)

For me. (yipee!)

OK - I'm not quite sure where I was going with the above train of thought, I'm sure it was just going to be documenting more weirdness. Let's interrupt that, because this is totally better...



How timely was this??? A fantastically thoughtful and adorable pouch from Beki! And she threw in some conversation hearts, too! This may just be what the doctor would have ordered...

I'm smiling.

Beki, thank you so much for the much appreciated lift today. I hope you get some idea of how much joy this brought me...
(and I suspect that all the other readers of BFC are thanking you, too.
Because whereas you didn't make the weirdness stop; you got me to stop writing about it!)

<3

Just a Short Note...

Very shortly after posting Monday's "100 Things" list, I went to sleep.
But did you notice that I stayed up late to post it? Me, the early-to-bed-girl!

Very shortly after waking, I went to preschool, where I was subbing for the day.
I do love to get my "toddler-fix"...

Very, very shortly after leaving preschool, I got hit hard by some sort of horrible achy/fevery/sore-throaty/copious-amounts-of-green-stuff thing.*

And so I went back to bed. Where I proceeded to remain all day Tuesday.
Well, that's not wholly accurate - I did move my base of operations to the couch, so I could watch copious amounts of television. Lots and lots and lots of television...

Which is just a long, and roundabout way of explaining why it's been quiet silent over here for the past 48 hours...

Which was not my intent - I want to thank each and everyone of you for all the lovely lovely Blogiversary comments that you left.
It makes me want to have a blogiversary every week or so!

I didn't want anyone to think that I was hoarding all the good comments without a "thank you" in sight...
Because I am very very grateful for all the love.
Thank you, each and every one.

So - if I've got an email address for you, you'll be hearing from me soon.
Once I get my sad germy behind off the couch.
Where I am about to park it again...


**

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*And just so you know, I do realize that there is no logical or rational way to blame my getting sick on the preschoolers. I mean, I was symptomatic within about 90 minutes of leaving that place. I don't even think the Hanta virus incubates that quickly!

However, I do also know that I'm not setting foot back in that place without freebasing a whole bunch of Airborne first!

**I typed some "x"s and "o"s right there - but then deleted them. No one wants me loving on them right now....

How Blogging Has Been Very, Very Good to Me (Part II)

I'm over-thinking things again.

I've started and deleted and restarted this post numerous times...

I think my problem lies in the fact that I feel strongly about this, and my limited writing skills are failing me. Yet, I still want to say what it is I am trying to say.
So - I just hope this comes across the way that I want it to. I'm going to quit toiling over this post, and just throw it all out there.

It may not be the prettiest thing, but in it's own way, it'll be the most sincere pumpkin in the patch...

---

I previously wrote about why I started blogging - but those situations have all resolved themselves. Why then do I continue? The number one reason???

THE PEOPLE

I am fighting the urge to insert a "duh!" here.

I am touched, delighted and surprised every single day by the women (and yes, the men, too!) that I encounter in the blogisphere - both the visitors to BadFortuneCookie and those whose sites I visit religiously.

You inspire me - not just with your craftiness and creativity - but with your sense of community and caring.
I admire the way in which you share your lives - whether it's a kickass banana bread recipe, or a joy or a sorrow. I learn something from each one of you every single day - either through a wisdom that you pass along, or the simple dignity that shows through in the way you live your life.

You inspire me to become a better writer, to observe more, to become more contemplative of the world around me and my actions in it.

I feel that I am a nicer person for having become a blogger.

I know I am more a creative person.

You've gotten me to contemplate "gratitude" and what role it plays in my life...
And gratitude really isn't something that was on my radar a year ago...

I am interested in things again - and that to me is crucial.
I decided long ago that I would rather be interested than interesting. (I frequently find that the people who are so sure that they are interesting are the people that I like least to talk to at cocktail parties, etc.)
This concept of "interestedness" is important to me, but I kind of lost that for a while.
I now feel more connected to, and fascinated by the world around me (and by that I mean what I see here in my neighborhood, as well as the worlds that you take me to.)

I no longer feel the need to be a trailblazer, to set the world on fire... I've found contentment in the domestic arts and my role as a homemaker. And in doing so, found comfort in my own skin.

You've helped me to celebrate the good, and stood with me in the not-so-good. You deliver caring and support when I need it, and the occasional "snap out of it" when that's appropriate.

And, damn, so often you make me laugh...

In turn, you've shared your ups and downs, and allowed me to celebrate and commiserate with you.
I feel a part of a community.

You've taught me that my house is not just a place to dump stuff as I race from place to place. For the first time ever, I am attempting to actually make improvements to the house my home (and boy, oh boy, do I suck at it!) But my home is starting to show the first signs of decorating attempts...


click on photo to learn more about this stuff


Baby Steps, to be sure - but it's more than I've done in the 14 years that I've lived here...This began the year as an empty corner, save for the piano. Which was continually buried under a pile of jackets/books/mail/etc. And, it's the first thing you see when you walk in the front door. This is much nicer to be greeted with!)

You know me - I'm not one of those people who tries to sugarcoat everything and put forth the myth that "Oh my life is so perfect, blah blah blah... Look at how well I do things..."* What goes into these pages is kind of just me, warts and all. And I love how accepting you are of that.

So thank you - thank you for a wonderful year of inspiration, support, and community.
I'll never be able to repay you all for all that I've gained - but you make me want to try.**

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*And honestly, I quit reading those types of blogs months and months ago. If I want to read a fairy tale, I'll pick up Mother Goose. Or a Martha Stewart publication...

**If I go all "you complete me" on you, you have my permission to kick my ass....