It started off innocently enough. My niece, Andrea, and I were doing the dishes on Christmas evening when she happened to mention seeing something on Pinterest.

“Are you on it?” she asked.

I had heard the word mentioned before but was unfamiliar with the latest craze in online addiction and doubly unaware of how quickly an activity as innocent as attaching pictures to a virtual bulletin board could consume the unsuspecting soul.

“No,” I replied. “What is it?”

Andrea described the basics but ended her brief educational moment with “……if you were on it, I would DEFINITELY follow you.” Cue up the music….”I will follow youuuuu…. follow you wherever youuuu may gooooo.”

Who wouldn’t want to be followed????

Two months later…. “my name is Julie and I’m a Pinterest addict.”

Do not bother to reach me between the hours of 10 pm and midnight because I’m busy pinning. Your house could be on fire but before I’d respond, I would check to see if there are any cool tips posted on how to put out said fire.

I know how to create a bird feeder out of a slinky.

I know 1001 uses for vinegar and now possess over 200 soup recipes!

I know how to turn a discarded tire found by the side of the road into an artfully displayed hanging basket.

I know the tastes and habits of total strangers whom I’m convinced are my long lost soul sisters because we like the exact same things!

The problem is….. I probably won’t have time to really do much of it because I can’t tear myself away from the computer.

They say the first step in dealing with an addiction is realizing that you have a problem.

Houston….. we have a problem.

I don’t mean to end this post abruptly but it’s almost 10:00 and it’s pinning time!

Julie

Tonight is Grammy night and I’m feeling like quite the D-lister. Apparently child sensations Sophia Grace & Rosie received my invitation, but I guess the fact that they are frequent guests on the Ellen show secured their celebrity status.

So, once again, I will watch the Grammys ala Gaver-style. It’s actually a pretty good deal. I didn’t have to starve myself in order to get into my outfit. No one will be asking me who I’m wearing (but if you’re interested, it’s Macy’s Fleecewear couture). And I’ll have a front row seat, complete with popcorn and all the other snack accessories to get through the evening.

However, tonight’s show will be bittersweet because of yesterday’s announcement that Whitney Houston has died. For some reason this news really saddened me and I’m not the kind of person who normally feels affected by a celebrity death. But she had an immense talent that we were blessed to have been the benefactor of. Sadly, however, it came at a big price to her soul, health, and ultimately her life. Ohhhhh to have had that kind of talent.

Ohhhh… to even be able to carry a tune. That would make me happy.

When my son Craig was a newborn, I used to rock him to sleep every night before placing him in the crib. During our rocking chair time I sang and sang and sang, partly to prolong having to put him down. Mostly because I always loved music and hoped that he would grow up loving music too. (He did!)

One evening in the middle of what I always felt was such a tender Mother-son time, my husband poked his head in the door and said “I wonder how old Craig will be when he realizes you can’t carry a tune.”

But tonight, it doesn’t matter whether my pitch is off or even if I forget the words. It’s Grammy night and we celebrate those who did receive that gift. And when Jennifer Hudson sings her tribute to one of the greatest voices that ended too soon, I, too will sing along. Loudly.

“I believe the children are our future. Teach them well and help them lead the way.”

Far be it for me to complain about it EVER being too warm but what’s the big deal about January????? This weekend’s flirtation with the 60′s makes me realize that my whining about hating winter must have worked. Somebody heard me and decided to show mercy. But here’s the deal.

I miss it.

It’s like the boyfriend you break up with because you don’t want him, but don’t want anyone else to have him either. Winter….I want you back! I want it to look and feel a LITTLE bit like the transition between fall and spring…not a 15-feet-of-snow-kind of winter but at least one where wearing my tights and cool new leather boots I bought this season don’t leave me sweating!

One of the (few) good things I’ve often commented about winter is that it allows me to enjoy a much needed rest before hitting the yard hard during early spring garden season. But today when I walked to the car I noticed that my spring bulbs are peeking out of the ground a good three inches. I’m worried I’m going to be out there weeding on Groundhog’s Day!

So it must be true.. Mother Nature IS a woman and she can’t make up her mind!

I created a entire Pinterest board of beautiful winter images to get me through the season. I’m ready….mentally, emotionally, physically. I have hot chocolate to make with a cute peppermint rim around the mug. New books have arrived from Amazon to make snowy days fun reading days. I have craft projects to make, and cozy, fleece pjs to snuggle in.

So….. BRING IT!

And don’t even THINK about coming in March! Because, by then, the shipments from my seed catalog shopping will have arrived and I’ll be out of the mood for you.

So for now… how about a little frosting?

Julie

My high school didn’t have a football program until my senior year. In spite of the fact that I was raised on soccer, I became an instant fan of the sport because I was dating the new quarterback at the time. The boyfriend situation ended about the same time football season was over so my motivation to understand the difference between a tight end and a running back was quite temporary.

At the small state university I attended, I was a member of the drill team. We performed along with the marching band during the home football halftime shows. To my recollection, our team won only one game during my four year tenure, which is the excuse I’m using for why I didn’t take the time to understand the sport my second time around.

My husband always loved football. Being the good wife that I am, I realized that he would enjoy watching the games at our home much more if he had a companion. So, for many years I invited my friend, Nancy, to watch the Superbowl at our house. While they screamed and cheered for their respective teams, I ironed upstairs. I wish I could say that I’m making this up but unfortunately, I’m not. Yeah… just call me the Touchdown girl because it’s the only time I would run downstairs to be part of the excitement.

When my sons entered high school, we attended many of the high school games. I could tell you what everyone in the stands wore, recite the concession stand menu, hum all the tunes in the halftime performance, and ponder the answer to “who let the dogs out?” for weeks because apparently no one in the stands knew! But I STILL had a difficult time staying focused on the game.

I guess I just don’t get it.

And sadly, I’m come to realize that I don’t care if I do.

For the next two weeks, the Superbowl will be the topic of conversation everywhere you go.

I will listen and try to act interested.

I will plan and display an impressive array of tailgate-style treats on game day.

I will sit on the sofa and laugh at the commercials and watch the halftime show…. and ponder…..

Who really DID leave the dogs out and why does no one care anymore?

Here’s wishing your team wins!

Julie

According to eDivorcePapers.com, statistics show that January ranks No. 1 as the month with the highest divorce filings. I guess people take the “out with the old, in with the new” adage just a little too seriously.

As someone who has been married for 32 years, I guess I can understand why the month of January could potentially be the straw that breaks the matrimonial camel’s back.

1) Primping for the holidays is officially over and the 3 month hiatus from shaving begins! (Ok… it’s not that bad but I can’t be the only one who enjoys the break!)

2) The post-holiday VISA bill arrives.

3) Watching hours upon hours of football is not exactly most women’s idea of foreplay.

4) Beginning a strict regimen of carb-less eating can make even the happiest of couples a tad bitchy.

5) Being snowed in with one’s spouse with no electricity can be a blessing or a curse…. which means only one thing…….

September mostly likely tops the charts as the highest birth rate month.

Check it out and get back to me, will ya?

I’m going to shave my legs!

Julie