Grace’s Neighborhood

I cannot believe it's been so long since I last posted here. Truth be told, I'm not really one for public blogs anymore. I feel like this part of my life, the inhabited and carefree writing that once ran through my veins made it's departure quite a number of years ago. While it may be easy to keep my personal life out of public blogging, I know I always toe the line between reality and free speech. Of course, your life must be reflected in your writing, but it makes me feel too naked.

the interruption ... if you would give me just a second of your time!

Yeah, it's me.

Hi! 

I know, I seriously HATE HATE HATE those type of "goodbye, see-ya, I'm moving on, come follow me here" type of posts that people do when they are leaving one blogging platform for another.  That's why I never did one.  I did move my main blog over to Blogspot.  No huge reason, really, I just had that one as a "family and friends that know me in real life" type blog and it just got to be too much to run that one and this one. 

So as much as I love LOVE Vox, this one just was kept on the back burner for too long, and something had to give.  I mean, I haven't posted a real post here since the beginning of March, for goodness sakes.  But, I have had a few of you contact me recently wondering what was up and where I was (thanks for that, I feel so loved!)

So if any others of you still care, are still reading, even still have me in their neighborhoods, if you're interested you can find me here:

twomoreseconds.com

and

plumpearapple.com

Two More Seconds! is my family/friends/catch all life blog.  Kinda like what I had here.  Plum Pear Apple is my new venture, I'm selling kids Superhero Capes that I custom make.  It's keeping me incredibly busy but it's going really good so far.  So, you're welcome to come visit me at either of those places.  I still love comments.  :)

Oh, also, I still read all of you on a regular basis, I'm just a HORRIBLE commenter lately, so I promise to try to be better at that, if you promise to try too! 

xo,  Erin

Show us your favorite flower.

Okay, so daisies are really my favorite flower but I took this photo of a daffodil in my yard last week so I'm sharing that instead!

76/366

Do you have a particular "catch phrase" for which you are known?
Submitted by Emu with a Clue.

Sadly, I do not. Sure there are words that I often say, but as for a catch phrase? No. Although I've always wanted to get tattooed "c'est la vie" because there are many times where I just have to shrug and say.. that's life.. no matter which way you stack it.

Here's one for the ladies:  What's in your handbag right now? 
Submitted by Kadeeae.

I keep a ton of stuff in my handbag.

* 2008 Planner
* MP3 player
* Canon Powershot camera
* Sony Ericsson mobile phone
* My current read: East of Eden by John Steinbeck
* Nintendo DS
* Case of DS games
* Rescue Remedy Spray
* Compact mirror
* No7 pressed powder
* BodyShop lotion
* No7 hand cream
* BodyShop hemp lip balm
* No7 lip gloss
* Coin purse
* Various cards (bank, driver's license, etc.)

Show us where you work. 
Submitted by leisa bell.  

Taxi

This is where I work! I'm a taxi escort doing work given to the taxi office by social services. All I do is ride in the back with clients who need assistance or supervision for whatever reason, mostly due to disabilities. It's an easy job and I enjoy it for the most part.

For Pregnancy Flashback Friday

So I was very blessed in that I had a pretty awesome pregnancy.  I not once got "morning" sickness, I didn't have to wear maternity clothes until well past 20+ weeks, I was put on a strict "one-milkshake-a-day" diet by my ObGyn because I wasn't gaining enough weight (for real!), I didn't have ligament pains or Braxton Hicks contractions or any of that.  I didn't even get one stretch mark.  Don't hate me too much, please. 

But what I did get were cankles.  Seriously fat, ugly swollen Shrek feet.  For reals.  It didn't help that the last trimester of my pregnancy was June-July-August in Southern California -- it was SO hot the summer of 2006, too.  It also didn't help that I was on my feet most of my days at work.  My feet were so swollen some days that I would look down at them literally expecting to see my skin cracking open at the seams.  I was "dentable" -- my coworkers got a great laugh out of poking in my foot with as much pressure as they could -- and then taking bets on how long it would take the dent to subside.  Sometimes it was 30 or more minutes.  It was gross, uncomfortable, painful ... and a little freakish. 

At work I first got special clearance to wear flat shoes (otherwise we were encouraged to wear heels).  Then I got clearance to wear my flat Crocs.  Then I got further clearance to wear my flip-flops, because my feet were to swollen to fit into my clog-Crocs.  THEN my feet got too fat to fit into my beloved Rainbows and so I resorted to wearing slippers around my desk area ... and going barefoot when I was teaching a class.  I also kept a bucket of ice water under my desk and would soak my feet during down time.  People would come by my desk from all over the building to see the freaky swollen feet girl. 

Here's a picture of my feet, when I was about 6 months pregnant (not too much swelling yet, pretty close to normal)

rainbows, pre swell

And here's a picture when I was about 8 months pregnant, on my last day of work.  (Sorry for the crappy picture quality)

rainbows, post swell

A little while ago I posted about me becoming a volunteer at the Sundance Film Festival this year (well, technically next year, since it's in January '08).  I'm getting more and more excited about it.  I only signed up to be part-time, which is committing to a minimum of five 4-hour shifts - but with the unlimited possibility to pick up more.

I have thoroughly read and signed my volunteer agreement and release form:

agreement

I agreed to not take any stalkerazzi photos (at least during the times that I'm working!) like this one:

Jennifer A. at Sundance

I'm hopefully going to be working inside of the retail store located in the Egyptian Theater in Park City (one of the main venues for films and Q&A sessions at the festival):

The Egyptian

I get a free film voucher for every 4 hours that I work ... so that's at least 5 free films.  I've been poring over the entries list trying to decide what I want to see.  I'm extra excited, too, because my Aunt has a house in Park City right off main street, so I have a place to go before and after my shifts.  That's going to come in really handy, too, when I can park in her driveway and not have to fight the festival parking or take a shuttle.  Plus most of my family goes up to the festival at some point -- it's fun to just walk up and down main street looking for celebrities and getting all the free SWAG everyone is giving away.  Now they'll also be able to come visit me!

By the way, I think my freezer might be possessed by the devil.

Piggie

What in the world is wrong with some people?

I guess we should all be thankful that the little guy will be okay. And speaking of giving thanks, happy Thanksgiving to all of my American friends out there.