Mahan Blog Challenge: October Topics

As you may or may not know, my fabulous mom challenged us to post on our blogs using weekly topics that we take turns choosing. October is my month to assign topics. I will pick enough for five weeks, since October spills heavily into a week 5 this year. Feel free to read along, or join in should the topic move you to do so.

Week 1: What is your favorite thing about each one of your siblings (or parents if you have no sibs OR both should the mood strike you)?

Week 2: Write a letter to your sixteen-year-old self. What advice would you impart?

Week 3: What is the title of your best-selling memior and why?

Week 4: Is there a book that you believe that everyone should read? What is it, and how has it affected you?

Week 5: What is the best piece of advice you have ever received?

Hmmmm...sorry if some (or all) of these sound a little "teacher-y". It is who and what I am deep down, afterall. I'm having a moment when I miss it and almost believe that I used to be good at it. Blech! This tired and emotional girl needs some sleep! Take the topics and run, people! Run with it!

Instantly Proficient?!

The  post challenge for this week is, "If you could be instantly proficient at anything, what would you choose?" Ummm...Mom, I am proficient at many things, and I am obviously humble about it. However, if I could be instantly AWESOME at anything I would choose playing the piano. Little known fact: I actually can play the piano. Kind of. I took a few lessons when I was a teenager, but for the most part, I am self-taught. This means that I can play a few songs here and there and even fewer songs that I can play well. I love the piano though. I love to play, and I am GREEN with envy at those who do play well. I might add that there is something really sexy about a man who can play the piano. Yep, Yanni and Elton John included.

Someday, I will have a house that has a room that is a library/music room. There will be a baby grand in the center, and a beautiful window seat for people to sit and enjoy the music or the atmosphere. My children will play, and yes, I will be that mom who sometimes forces them to take lessons believing that they will thank me one day. Music is and always has been such an amazing and important part of my life. I honestly don't know if people know that about me. The gift that my mother gave me of singing, singing, singing all the time is something I naturally find myself doing with my daughters. I sang to Q while she was still so itty-bitty in the NICU. I sing to her and T as we make dinner or change clothes or take baths. So, when I get my piano, it will be a central part of our family life--another Sadler.

What Almost Always Gives Me Goosebumps

 

There isn't really an ALMOST in this one. I tend to get goosebumps and cry--often sobbing uncontrollably during the "Hallelujah Chorus". As Q and I watched this one today, she danced and I sobbed. This Holiday Season is going to be a tear-filled one. No avoiding it!

My LEAST Favorite Thing To Do...

 

This is no secret. I hate housework. Despise vacuuming. Detest dishes. Loathe sweeping and mopping. Don't believe in making my bed. WASTE OF TIME. Luckily, I married someone who is totally crazy about how the house looks. I would much rather just not invite people over. Now, I do know how to clean. I am actually rather good at it when I get started. However, in order to get on a house cleaning roll, I need a quiet and empty house. A place where there are no distractions and nothing to detract me from my goal of a clean space. My mom used to love it if I had an hour or so with the house to myself. I would attack with the dust rag and vacuum. I do not have that luxury today, so every once in a while, I have to drag myself around the house and clean up. This also comes with the guilt that I am not cuddling my babies. I would absolutely rather be doing that. Housework stinks! Boo!

Super Hero Name and Power

(MAHAN CHALLENGE WEEK 1)

Okay, I actually love this idea, but as I have been dwelling on it over and over and over again, I realize that it is a hard one to come up with. I am not all that into Super Heroes, so my power and name don't really JUMP readily into my head.

I tried watching this clip from The Big Bang Theory. Then this one:

 



Made me laugh, but really just served as a distraction. However, this is what I came up with.

If I were a super hero, my super power would be the ability to say exactly the right thing to people at exactly the right moment. Obviously, I would have the courage to say and the gumption to not care if it made them dislike me. Although, it wouldn't because I wouldn't be tactless. I suppose then my Super Hero name would be Oprah...isn't that who I just described? Wait...so, my dream to be the next Orpah lives on!

Slow and Steady...weight loss

http://www.inkart.com/pages/travel/tortoise_and_hare.html

As much as I would love to see lbs just fall off my body, I know that isn't going to happen. So, we are down this week. Not by a huge number, but I lost 1.4 lbs this past week. Now that I get to work out a little more vigorously, I hope to see at least two more this week! The family is starting what has become a yearly Biggest Loser event on September 1st, and to all my sibs and my dad: BRING IT! I am one motivated momma!

Humble Pie

 

Well, I think I am being force fed some humble pie right now. Somehow I have to figure out how to let go of the anger, resentment, and frustration I am feeling towards...well, it doesn't matter who it is, does it? What does matter is that I need some help figuring out how to control/release what I am feeling right now. This isn't help that is going to come from this world. I know that. I just need the answer to be crystal clear. I need to know what it is that I need to do to change my attitude. It is the only one I have control over, afterall. Although, I often feel as if I have little control over that right now either.

I am happy that I can start working out harder this week. I think focusing on that will help. If anyone wants to come sit with my girlies for an hour so I can actually hit up the gym, let me know! I will let you. :-) I am going to pack the girls up and head over the mountains to visit my parents this coming weekend. I need to get away for a little bit. I hope to drive up the Mesa and sit for a while--and probably cry. I think I need a good cry. You know the kind, whole body, barely breathing, cry until you are dry kind of cry. Problem is, after that kind of cry, I always want a nap. I don't have time for a nap.

Today I need a reason to keep going...okay, that's a bit dramatic, but I am drama. At least I know it and can admit it.