I like to use baskets around the house. They are attractive, not to mention, they keep things in their place. Here are a few ways I use them:
In the fridge
Holding photo albums
In the living room as a magazine holder
Very handy for keeping all of the items I need when getting ready
Laundry
In the bedroom
Move on up
towards your destination
You may find
from time to time
Complications
Bite your lip
and take a trip
Though there may be
wet road ahead
You cannot slip
So move on up
and peace you will find
Into the steeple
of beautiful people
Where there’s only one kind
Just move on up
and keep on wishing
Remember your dreams
are your only schemes
So keep on pushing
Take nothing less –
not even second best
And do not obey –
you must have your say
You can pass the test
~Curtis Mayfield “Keep On Moving”
I am working hard to keep a positive attitude. Some days are better than others. It’s hard right now because I am very tired and my temper is short. But I know I have to do things to keep myself floating. When I am feeling extremely fragile I avoid people like Tasha who will drain the life right out of you. I listen to motivational music such as the song above. I pray. I clean. Sleep. Sometimes I write or bake. Most importantly, I keep on moving.
Busy does not fully describe what I have been the last week and a half.
Ian and Imani were invited to a birthday party by one of our employees from the salon. We were able to drop them off and enjoy part of the afternoon. Well instead of relaxing, I did some things around the house while Hubby watched football. (Don’t you ladies just love football season?)
Hubby was away from home a few nights. He went to visit a friend in the hospital.
Ian and Imani’s school had Family Game Night at their school. Hubby and I both had to work late so our neighbor took them. When I left the salon I went to enjoy the last half hour with them. Ian won a game of bingo. Imani was super excited and was running all over the place. I was so tired but put on a happy face for them.
Kierra went to homecoming at her school last week. We were really emotional about it considering this was her first high school dance. I styled her hair and took her to get her nails done. Then we went to look for a purse to match her dress. We didn’t find one so she just carried a wristlet. Hubby took pictures and she looked so pretty!
I had two meetings after work and one training. We were given a list of things to do in preparation for a walk through with the big boss. During the meeting we found out that our building is set to close next May. On top of that, the big boss informed us that we are not guaranteed a position at another location. So my stress level is high.
Hubby has been telling me to just work at the salon and not to worry about getting another job. But I really enjoy working with the kids at the school. Decisions, decisions, decisions…I guess I have a while to make up my mind.
Since we have been runnung around on top of working, my house looks like a tornado flew through it. Yesterday I had a major headache and I just refused to do anything. My mom ordered a pizza so I didn’t have to cook. I just ate and went to bed as soon as I tucked Ian and Imani in bed.
Ian has had a nightmare two nights in a row where he has scared the you know what out of me. Screaming at the top of his lungs, “Mommy, Daddy Mommy, Daddy!”
I had another rough day at work today. Another headache! The rumors started about our meeting. I just wanted everyone to stop talking about the building closing. Towards the end of the day, I closed my door and turned on my Zune so I could “let it go” before I got home. Then I thought about the laundry waiting on me. Oh, and I didn’t go grocery shopping. I need to clean the sink in the kid’s bathroom where Imani squirted red sparkly toothpate out of the tube. Not only the sink but the walls too! I was so not looking forward to that.
On the way home I was on the verge of tears. I felt so overwhelmed. As I pulled into the driveway my Hubby was cleaning out the garage. We greeted each other and I went in to get a few moments to myself before I started my tasks.
Imani attacked me (which is her ritual lately whenever I come home and Hubby has picked them up from school). I shared hugs and kisses with her before heading inside.
Going into the kitchen I noticed the breakfast dishes were done. The kitchen, spotless. I rounded the corner and saw that the floor had been vacuumed. Up the stairs, same thing, vacuumed floors. I go into our bedroom, Hubby finally put up his clothes that were draped over the massage chair. Our bathroom, spotless. I go down the hall into the kids bathroom, NO RED TOOTHPASTE EVERYWHERE!!! I almost passed out. The kid’s bedrooms, spotless!!!
I broke down crying anyway! Hubby had to have been cleaning all day. The only thing he left for me to do was the laundry. That’s ok, I prefer it that way.
Kierra even helped the kids with their writing lesson.
Oh, and the icing on the cake…Hubby cooked dinner too! I just love him to death!!!
As soon as I returned home from Seattle I jumped right in to prepare my home for the fall. This is a habit I just picked up. The women in my family are hoarders and I try my best to get rid of things that I am no longer using. I have been guilty of hoarding things from time to time. My husband has given me hints that it’s time to throw away/ give away but I hold on “just in case.” Since we no longer have storage space I had to take his advice.
So I started in our bedroom closet. Back in the corner I found a box that I had stored there shortly after we moved into our new home. I knew exactly what was in the box and my first though was to toss the whole box without opening it. I didn’t follow my own advice, something that I told Morocco that she shouldn’t do a couple weeks ago. I opened old wounds. Inside the box were my old journals dated 1999-2004. Five years worth of drama in one box. Everything that the BM had done to my family was right there in black and white.
I read some of the pages and the memory of my life back then made my stomach turn. I was so unhappy. My life was not supposed to turn out this way. was written in 1999. I just want to bust her face open was written in 2000. Why won’t she find a man and leave us alone was written in 2001. Why, why why???? was written in 2002. And in 2003 I wrote about her trying to have my husband go downtown with her to increase child support after the purchase of our new home. That’s just the VERY short version. In 2004 I wrote about changing my focus. New beginnings is my last entry. I wonder why I never finished that journal. Oh I know why because even though things SEEMED to get better with the BM, she always found a way to cause more chaos.
As I sat there on the floor in my closet, journals in my lap, I said to myself “Let it go Rhonda, just let it go.” I ripped the pages into tiny pieces. BM is not in my inner circle. The things she does can no longer hurt me–only if I allow them to. I refuse to allow her to hurt me.
It’s funny how this came about. Morocco and I have been talking about switching our focus. I do not feel good talking about (writing or reading about) the things BM does all the time. I’m quite sure that I will not stop cold turkey but just not all the time. My life is so much more than the BM and her drama. I’m finished cleaning out my closet. Now I have room for new things!
Morocco's Bazaar 