Randomness

So, Where Have You All Been?

/ Dawn Kasal-Finley / 4 Comments

Oh, wait it’s me who has been absent.  Well, things have been really spinning fast here and the days just haven’t been long enough for me to do anything that isn’t life or death.  My plate has been full for the past few weeks, but finally it is now a little on the less full side.  I can’t say it’s anywhere near empty, but I have a little time back to blog.  I have missed you all.  Sorry for the short hiatus–let’s be honest…I have written a post of any substance in a few weeks. 

Well school is done and I am happy to say that I managed to get an A in my stats class which is really nice and I am all but certain that I rocked an A in my curriculum course.  It’s nice to get straight A’s.  I know I am a super geek–but those three little letters behind my name are so worth being a geek for. 

Christmas is in full swing here at Chez Finley.  The tree is up and decorated.  The lights are up outside as are the atrocious inflatables that St. Nick delivered to us via my crazy mother–I love you mom.  I’m sorry if you love your inflatables–I love them too in someone else’s yard.  But now we have two huge ones in our yard.  I do have to say that the kids love them and we only have to put them up as long as we live in the same city as my mom–as she lives close enough to drive by and check it out.    St. Nick visited our house and brought the kids books–our new tradition.  Noah thought it was cool to wake up and find presents in his shoes.  It took him 20 minutes to open his presents–he ripped the paper off one little piece at a time.  Christmas morning might take a while–thank goodness Santa doesn’t wrap his presents this year. 

We finally went on a tour of what will hopefully be Noah’s school through 8th grade.  It blew my mind and I will work 2 jobs if I have to in order to pay for this for our kids.  I am in love with this school and everything that it stands behind and does.  There is nothing I don’t like about this school and I hope that Noah gets in.  There are only 16 kids in the 3/4 class.  There is one class at each grade and each class has only 24-26 except for the 3/4 and 4/5’s they have only 16 kids.  Each class has two teachers and there are no textbooks to be found.  It is really an absolutely amazing school.  They really want Noah–they strive for diversity, so as long as he has a good interview (observation) he should be in.  Now we just have to hope for financial aid–or maybe I could sell a kidney.  Just a thought.

I have eaten myself sick on Christmas cookies.  I made cookies this year and Noah did a great job helping me with the cookie press, sprinkles and rolling the snickerdoodles in the cin/sugar mixture.  I now remember why I haven’t made Christmas cookies in a long time.  I figure if I keep drinking wine, I won’t eat the cookies–so far not working.  Snickerdoodles and Syrah not a bad combo. 

I have been busy with photography clients.  I have done nearly one shoot a week every week for the past 6 weeks and that keeps me very busy with touch ups, etc.  One of my lenses broke–it is my go to lens.  I had to buy a new one and I wanted to get a good one.  So that should be here tomorrow and I am so excited as it is an awesome lens.  I bought it used–because new it is over $1500 and that is just insane to spend on a lens.  I got a decent deal one a used/like new one and can’t wait to check it out to make sure it is in good shape. 

I will go ahead and cut this off here.  I want thank those of you still reading.  I know this is a lot.  But, I did throw in a few pictures for you all.  I’ll be back tomorrow with regular posts and am officially off hiatus. 

It’s nice to be back.

I Am Drowning

/ Dawn Kasal-Finley / 4 Comments

end of semester maddness with projects–very very very big projects. pictures to proof and get to clients yesterday. EOR work to finish (love you ladies and sorry I’m not keeping up).  I am trying hard to keep my head above water.  it should all be better come monday at 7:30 after I have presented my final project that is going to kill me.  no time for capitalization or spell check.  getting PhD might just kill me.  two kids who go non-stop with out the ability to sit still or allow mommy to do anything.  i use to be able to work while Zo napped or while Noah napped but those days are at an end.  i am non-stop playing and entertaining children from 7:30 am until 9:00pm when they are both finally in bed and asleep.  doesn’t leave a lot of time to get anything done.  sorry to all of those who are waiting for me to get stuff finished. it’s coming.

Back in a few days

Thanks For The Advice

/ Dawn Kasal-Finley / 2 Comments

I know that is seems like talking to my grandmother would be the way to go.  I wish it were.  But my grandmother can be difficult-when it comes to this kind of thing.  She is not–at least for me–the kind of grandmother I can sit an talk to about things openly.  Not even my dad would confront her.  She can hold a grudge and be stubborn. 

I know it wasn’t an oversight that she didn’t give me a quilt.  My grandmother doesn’t forget–she is bound by tradition and good manners.  I know that might seem contradictory as it was bad manners for her to not make me a quilt.  I was talking with my brother today and he is ready to say something.  Because I just can’t.  I hate confrontation and it would be a big bru-ha-ha. 

I will consider saying something to her, but I just don’t think it will make much of a difference and there are some who are not open to nor willing to learn the lessons that they could learn.  Sadly, my grandmother is one of these women. 

Thanks for listening…

Stacie, I know you tagged me-I am doing that post for Friday.

Still Totally Love Edward

/ Dawn Kasal-Finley / 5 Comments

even though the movie was a complete disappointment.  Sorry to spoil it for all of you Twilight fans who haven’t seen the movie yet.  I still enjoyed it, because I totally love Edward, but it wasn’t nearly as awesome as it could/should have been. 

It was totally low budget–so that is a problem.  I am not sure who the director was but he sucks.  Hopefully next time around they will get a new director.  There were a lot of acting issues and I think a good director could have gotten rid of 99% of those problems. 

The screen adaptation was not that great.  There was so much material to work with in the book and the screen writers really dropped the ball. I know it was a big book with lots and lots of material and it took place over a long period of time–but it could have been so much better.  Hey Twilight producers–I am available for the next screen play–never written one, but I am pretty sure I could have adapted the first book better. 

All is all, I am glad that I saw it and I plan to see the next one when it comes out.  Go in with low expectations and you won’t be disappointed.  Edward is awesome–he too has some acting issues, but all in all–love Edward.

Quick Status Update

/ Dawn Kasal-Finley / 3 Comments

MIL is arriving in just over two hours.  House is clean–need to put sheets on her bed. 

Zoë is walking–not too far but can walk across a room.  She has also slept through the night every nigt this week.  I am hoping this will remain the status quo. 

Going to see Twilight tonight.  Yes, I know it is not going to be some great cinematic genius film, but I love Edward and can’t wait to see the movie.  Yay! Girls night.

I am getting a lot better at Zoë’s hair.  I have been doing it every day so that she starts to get use to the pulling, etc.  I have been working with different things to make her hair “pretty.”   I have some small clips but the teeth on them are sharp and were cutting the elastics and so I have moved on to little scrunchie type things.  I need to get some clips that don’t have teeth.  If you can point me in the right direction let me know.