On My Mind

one
I know I told you everything that was on my mind just last week, but I’m feeling a bit ADD today.

.

This seems to be the best format for posting today.
Wait. Did someone say pie?

two
Hoooney, I’m hoooome!
After nearly three weeks at the hotel, we moved home on Saturday. We still need to put down new wood flooring in the dining room, hall and entry and tile in both bathrooms, but plywood covered with throw rugs will do until we get our DIY on.
The bedrooms and living room have lovely, luscious new carpet, perfect for making carpet angels.
New Carpet Angels

New Carpet Angels
The brown trim around the windows will eventually be replaced with something pretty. Walt installs; I paint.ย  Floors first, though.

three
Still not ‘pooing. It’s been four months and my hair has never felt better.
No'poo - 4 months
Usually when it gets this long, it starts to get all snarly and annoying, but I’m loving it right now.
Updated to add: Scroll down to the comments for my best tips. Please add your own if you don’t ‘poo either.
No Poo - 4 Months

four
We picked up Pepper from the borders today. The lady behind the desk got a little teary-eyed when she said goodbye.
Say it with me: awwww.

five
Yesterday, my real-life, lovely friend Annie emailed me about an awesome project she’s been working on. Since she is a great writer, even in a mere email, I’ll let her tell you about it herself:


Dear Friends,
As many of you know, our family experienced a shocking loss earlier this year. From the Mountain Democrat:
“On [February 2nd, 2011] principal Sam LaCara was shot to death in his office at Louisiana Schnell School in Placerville. Thatโ€™s the reason Sam LaCara, 50, is in the news today, but there are other reasons he could have made the front page.

One reason might have been the heartfelt interest LaCara took in the 411 students at the K-5 elementary school. LaCara became an educator in 1988 after graduating from California State University, Sacramento. He worked in the Placerville Union School District for 21 years, as a teacher and coach, an assistant principal and as principal.”

Sam LaCara is my uncle. I lived across the street from him and could walk on over any time (especially if there was a ballgame on). There was always an open door policy, and Sam was always ready and willing to take his nieces and nephews out on the boat down the Feather river. I remember where I was standing, what time it was when I got the call that he’d been shot. My first thought, before my mom finished telling me the details of what had happened, was: “I wonder how long his recovery will take.” It never occurred to me that Sam wouldn’t survive.
This holiday season will be incredibly difficult for my aunt and her daughters. It will be their first holiday without their husband and father. I wanted to do something for my family, but what? I live 3,000 miles away now, and my ability to help felt so limited.
I’m not sure when the idea of sending them a storybook for Christmas hit me, but hit me it did. I asked for friends and family to submit stories, letters, poetry, and drawings. I gathered up the contributions and set about trying to get them ready for publication. I thought about just printing four copies, one for each of Sam’s “girls”. Then the idea came along to actually publish and sell the anthology, with all the proceeds going to the girls’ college funds.
The end result is Christmas Wishes: A Collection of Holiday Tales and Truths. Christmas Wishes is filled with stories that alternate between off-beat and giggle-inducing, to inspirational and moving. There’s a story about two little bear cubs, a letter from a soldier, as well as tales geared more towards teens and grown-ups. I am so proud of the results of everyone’s hard work. I think Christmas Wishes will be a wonderful gift for my aunt and her daughters.
It could also be a wonderful gift for you or someone you love. By purchasing a copy of Christmas Wishes, you will be helping to provide the LaCara family with opportunities to further their education and pursue their dreams. Sam made education a huge priority for his girls, and making sure they have every chance to pursue that education would be the greatest Christmas present I think we could give them. Not only would it open doors for the girls, but it would also honor Sam’s legacy.
It would be so easy to give in to the grief of reality, to despair. However, I believe if we try to reach out to those who are suffering, it will help them, and us, to see there is more in this world than darkness. The Christmas season is a constant reminder that with every blow to the human spirit, there is also light, love, and the warmth of human kindness all around us.
You can find Christmas Wishes: A Collection of Holiday Tales and Truths for sale here (Amazon). You can also go to any bookstore and request a copy by using the following information:
Title: Christmas Wishes: A Collection of Holiday Tales and Truths
ISBN: 978-1467975087

I’m heading over to buy my copy right now. Something for me that does good for others? That’s a Christmas wish come true.

six
Seriously, did someone say pie?

What’s on your mind today?

13 Comments

  1. What’s on my mind is a book you MUST get Newt for Christmas called Wreck This Journal. Please blog about it.

    And speaking of blogs, I’m enjoying yours so much and appreciate the energy you’re putting into it that it might allllllmost be to the point that it is catching and I have to sit down at my own little site and spill. I wonder if I remember the password.

    Reply
    • Done. I just ordered it.
      The only problem? Now I want one too. I’ll have to add it to my list; it looks awesome.
      If I inspire you to blog, I will be happier than… than… Pepper with my stolen bra! (That’s super happy!) Do it. Please.

      Reply
      • I got them for my kids too! But I’ll admit, when I heard about it from a friend, I thought of Newt first. Is there something odd about that?

        Perhaps not if my thinking was that it would make a great blog post and you’re the only one who could do it justice.

        The only answer I have to “why blog again now” is that I’m swamped with things I’d rather not do. How pathetic is that??

        Reply
        • I don’t find that odd at all. I think everyone should think of my child before any others…
          Blogging to avoid other unpleasant tasks is my favorite reason for blogging. I’m going to start obsessively checking my reader for your posts.
          (Actually, that’s not true. Bloggers who end up on my reader are doomed. When I take the time to check in I find that I have hundreds of posts lined up to read. I usually skim for awhile before frantically clicking Mark All as Read! Mark All as Read!)

          Reply
  2. Your hair looks great. I ended up abandoning the baking soda/acv routine because my hair was breaking and falling out so much ๐Ÿ™ I am still only shampooing every week or two, but I am using conditioner and sometimes acv.

    Reply
  3. <3
    <3 <3 <3

    (also…I want to try this no shampoo thing, but I'm a big fat chicken. Help?)

    Reply
    • Aww, I love you too!
      Ok, no ‘poo: For the first few weeks, hats and/or braids are your friend. Your crown will be greasy and your ends will be dry, but it gets better. So very much better.
      Tips: Use 1 T of Baking Soda with 1 cup of water.
      Measure, this is important. Too much BS (hee) and you’re dry and itchy. Too little and you won’t get clean. A couple of drops of tea-tree oil is really soothing. You don’t need to use the whole cup when you wash. I put mine in an empty shampoo bottle and refill as needed.
      Use a 1:1 ratio of water:apple cider vinegar to condition. Apply only to the ends. I keep a pony tail holder in the shower to pull my hair back after washing. Then I ACV condition just the pony. Easy-peasy.
      Try every other or every third day at first. I now wash every fourth or even fifth day – Whoo-hoo! I get to wear a silly pink shower-cap. Second and third days look the prettiest for some reason.
      Brushing your hair before bed helps distribute your natural oils and keep everything smooth and shiny – especially in the first month or so while you are adjusting.
      I hope you try it! Let me know how it goes.

      Reply
  4. I’m glad ya’ll finally got to go home!! ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply
    • Me too. Thanks Candy!

      Reply
  5. What kind of pie? I have a cat. Do you have a cat? I have a cat.

    I keep thinking of the Happy Hockey Family books. The newer “country” book is my favorite! If anyone hasn’t read them, I think the author is Lane Smith. They crack me up! They especially funny very late at night right after chocolate!

    Reply
    • Did you just have some chocolate? ๐Ÿ™‚
      I’ll have to look for those – Lane Smith is hilarious.
      I have a dog.

      Reply

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