Teeth are really gross that close up

I am slowly going through my house and cleaning out clutter. Last night I cleaned out my pantry. I had decided to move the silver shelf into my office for bead storage so I had to clean everything off that shelf. That meant I had to find a place for it. I started going through my pantry and realized that I wasn't using half of what was in there. There were whole shelves that I never even search anymore because I know it's all stuff I don't need. It felt so great to get rid of it. I have a growing pile of stuff that I either need to sell in a garage sale (my last one wasn't worth the effort) or just drive over to goodwill. I would try to freecycle it but people are just so flaky when they say they want something. I am thinking, better to just be rid of it in one action. I still need to do the bathroom cabinet and the linen closet. I have already done my closet and half of my laundry room. Organization is not something that comes easy to me. I have too much of a tendancy to keep things that other people are throwing out, thinking I may have a use for it someday. It's hard to let go sometimes!

Yesterday I had lunch with my friend Liz. We sat outside at the Uppercrust Bakery and enjoyed the sunny weather and I drank too many iced teas! It was glorious.

Today Forest may be reading a letter in front of the Texas Senate about his school. I guess they have a lot of absences at his school and because it is a publicly funded charter school, that puts it in danger of being closed. It is quite sad considering it is the last chance for some kids to graduate from high school. Anyway, they asked the kids to write a letter in English class stating why the school is so important to them and they picked the best letters to be read at the capitol. It's very exciting! Forest borrowed a button up shirt and dress shoes from James for the occassion. He looked quite handsome when I dropped him off this morning.

I have a dentist appt today to get fillings. I have deep ridges in my teeth and they are just going to fill them in with white bonding to keep me from getting cavities. First they have to drill out all the black stuff that is in the ridges. Oh joy. The last time I was there, they took pictures of my teeth close up and gave it to me. Teeth are really gross that close up.

Forest's learner's permit

Forest got his learner's permit yesterday. It was so exciting. After we picked it up, I let him drive me around for a while. We have done that in May but never in Austin. He did a pretty good job. I was trying very hard not to be too critical, remembering my mother yelling at me when I first started driving. ha ha. He said he was nervous. He wanted to practice certain navigations like an unprotected left and so forth. He had good use of signals. There was one incident where he started pulling into the next lane and almost hit a motorcycle that was in his blind spot. That was a little scary. Overall though, it was a very successful first experience! I am excited for him. Last night when I was saying goodnight, he asked if he could drive to school tomorrow. It reminds me of what a great feeling it is when you first start driving. While we were practising yesterday, we went to Sonic to rest and have a snack and he saw some friends there. I am sure he felt great sitting in the driver's seat!

gym, weekend, metals, niece.

I am quite pleased with myself for going to the gym three times last week, two of which were weights plus cardio. I am slowly building my gym routine back up. Also, one of the days, I actually got my husband to come along.

We had a great weekend. After going to the gym on Saturday we relaxed and watched taped tv shows all day. We totally got caught up on all the HBO shows we have been missing, Rome, Extras. We worked in the yard on Sunday. Yard work makes me feel good. The weather was gorgeous. We have been pulling weed after weed, for like the last few months. Man, the weeds are bad back there. They are coming up through the cracks between the sod squares. My mom says the best way to get rid of weeds is to pull them out by the root so that's what we do. Anyway, it was a super great relaxing weekend.

Finally getting some things accomplished on my metal line. Have three ring styles and three necklace styles. Am in the process of making sure I can reproduce them while also working to come up with more styles. I have high hopes of debuting them at the show in San Francisco in March. Fingers crossed!

My niece was born yesterday! I spoke to my brother 45 minutes after she was born and he sounded so happy and tired, having been up all night. She is healthy and cute and so is the mama. Can't wait to meet little Madeline. Why is it so exciting when babies are born?

Muscles and Closets

This weekend I had a muscle spasm. It started in my shoulder on Friday and by Saturday morning it had spread through the left side of my neck. It was so painful I had to go to the minor emergency clinic. They gave me muscle relaxers and the doctor said that strengthening my back muscles would help the situation. Kind of makes sense because I took a month and a half off during December and January. I have been back at the gym the past few weeks but you can bet I will be working my lats on a regular basis now. The doctor said that our bodies need regular maintenance. That's probably something I need to hear to motivate me! I am feeling much better now.

Forest is taking drivers ed. It is so exciting that he will be driving soon. Texas has a new law that requires he have a learner's permit for 6 months before he can get his license. That is probably a good idea. I have to say, I really look forward to the day he can drive himself to the skatepark!

I really need to organize all the storage areas in my house. I think I will start with my closet. I am thinking there must be some tips out there that can help me. For instance I have heard one rule that says if you haven't worn something in the past year you should get rid of it. I think it's a year. Anyway, I need some information before I can begin. I am storing too much stuff that I never use. It is hard to get rid of things. It kind of puts me in a quandary about going to flea markets and buying new things. I bet a lot of the stuff I get rid of is stuff I bought at flea markets. Oh well, maybe if I cycle it, it is okay, right? Am I justifying? ha ha. I like old junk!!

We are enjoying the backyard so much now that we are having some nice weather!