I think I have mentioned my nickname here before, but I’ll say it again. Hello, my name is Crisis Christine and I am a Prepper. Now, don’t get me wrong…I don’t belong on NatGeo’s show “Doomsday Preppers”, but I will admit, I like the idea of being prepared. I am not afraid of a zombie apocalypse, a volcanic eruption, coronal mass ejections from the sun, or a massive earthquake. I do not lay awake at night worrying about possible life altering events and how I will keep my family safe.  I do not think the world is going to end in December (or any other date some crazy prophet spits out) and I do not think we are going to be invaded by aliens.

I do, however, worry a little about the economy, Constitutional stomping laws, and Bigfoot. Okay, Bigfoot isn’t huge on my list, but I freak myself out when I’m in the woods. I am also a little scared of “paranormal” things. That’s right….ghosts.  BUT, that doesn’t mean I’m a paranoid nutcase.

I DO believe in being ready in case of an emergency. I worry about the prices of gas and food skyrocketing out of control, and to be honest, some of my neighbors are a little creepy. I just want to make sure my kids are safe. I have being saving food and water, will be planting a garden, begin canning, and have purchased some survival guides, as well as first aid bags, water filters, and even a port-a-potty. Will you find me perched in a tree with an assault rifle ready to shoot anyone who tries to get to my food storage? Maybe. Will my kids be fed if for some reason we cannot get food? Yes.

I am totally okay with stocking up on toilet paper, sanitation supplies, flour, rice, beans, and sugar and getting a little ribbing from folks along the way. Yes, we have firearms, but they are locked away from snooping children, and they have been (and continue to be taught) the seriousness of handling firearms. We have a fire drill, a “meet-up” spot in case we are separated while evacuating, and we have talked about what to do if there is an intruder. My children are not scared and I refuse to scare them. They are aware.

I have not turned into a camo-wearing, gun toting, right-winged radical. I am a “getting my nails done”, wear heels on date night, help there’s a spider in the kitchen, kind of girl. I love to play outside, get dirty, hug people, drink wine, and read books. I will let a man open the door for me, and give him a dirty look if he doesn’t.  I also love animals, pina coladas, dancing in the rain, and a long walk on the beach. I will (make no mistake,) I WILL load a semi-automatic weapon and point it at anyone or anything that threatens the well-being of my family.  But really, the odds of that happening are pretty slim.

Hello, my name is Crisis Christine and I am totally okay with it! Now…time to make that hair appointment

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Well, I am hoping the weather as of late is proof that ‘ol Puxatauny was wrong. It was gorgeous outside today! Of course, I used this day to run errands and then take a nap on the couch, but at least I drove with my window down and napped in the sun streaming through the window. Okay, that’s not all I did I taught Arlo, the new puppy, how to heel and sit! I was very proud of him and rewarded him with lots of treats and a ridiculous amount of baby talk and kisses. I admit, I am a total goob when it comes to pets. I carry the cats (Shadow and Lucy) cradled in my arms like babies. It’s sad, really.

My husband is convinced this is my way of dealing with “baby fever” which seems to have hit me out of nowhere. I have been daydreaming about “just one more”, but then William throws himself on the floor in a fit of anger over a Matchbox car, and all dreams are quickly dispersed. I can’t afford another baby, and besides….I’m almost 40 years old. The risks are just to great at that age. And, well…damn. I’m almost 40 years old. I’m starting to freak out a little, but I’m hoping the Three Legged Dog bottle of wine will help me through.

In the meantime, I will continue to spoil my pets. I have been known to mix wet food and dry food because dry food is just so “boring” and even heat it up in the microwave, because who wants a cold dinner? I buy them toys, beds, new collars, and more toys. I don’t mind scooping the litter box, or chasing the dog while trying to prevent a piddle accident. I clean up poop, give my own vaccinations, spend money on spaying, neutering, and even attending Humane Society fundraisers. I just love my furry friends!

So, in honor of the pets I’ve had (Frisky, Tiger, Bubbles, Chester, Peanut, Wibs, Howard, Stella, Pentunia, Ally, Mrs. Pips, Shadow, Lucy, Arlo and countless unnamed fishes), I will be spending some time this spring volunteering and spending time with pets who need a good home. There is Spay-ghetti and No Balls Fundraiser sponsored by the ASPCA and Wags to Riches Animal Rescue and Sanctuary at the West Valley Fire Department in Yakima. It is February 26, 2012 from 4 to 8pm at Station 1 at 10000 Zier Rd., Yakima, WA 98908. Please come if you can! The cost is only 5.00 per person with kids 12 and under being only 3.00, and there’s even a raffle!

This animal lover will thank you for your support, and I’m sure the animals will too. Of course, after the anesthesia from their procedures wear off and they are able to see clearly

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I figured starting over Christmas break would give me a chance to really evaluate what I needed to do. I could take the kids to daycare, Dan would be at work, and I could spend several days alone. It really helped me gain some perspective on the situation. I truly had no idea how much stress I was actually carrying around on my shoulders. It had affected my husband, my job, my beautiful children, and of course, myself.

I started to think: How did I become this way? Why do I have the need to control things? Why do I try so hard to control things I cannot possibly change? What the heck happened?!

I came up with a few things, and yes, I went back to my childhood and looked at the relationships I had with my parents. Cliché, but it worked. I had an emotionally turbulent childhood (I already knew that). I suffered from ADD and depression (I used to wonder what was wrong with me). When I was young, ADD was rare and treated with lots of drugs. Depression wasn’t even discussed in my house. I don’t think my family understood what was happening and it certainly didn’t cross their minds to get some help.

When I was 12 my mother demanded that I see a therapist, but my only option was to see the same one she started seeing. What?! Talk about boundary issues. I refused and the fight that followed was epic. I eventually saw someone, but I lied and said whatever I needed to in order to get out of that office.

I fought in silence for years, often becoming dangerously self-destructive. Honestly, there are moments when I am amazed that I am still alive. My parents were not exactly the pictures of mental health and I think in an effort to gain control over my life and surroundings, I tried to take control over things that were in my reach. I have had the ADD and depression under control for years, but I hadn’t changed my coping mechanisms. I was still a hamster on a wheel frantically trying to reach a destination that didn’t exist.

Now, at almost (gulp) 40 years old, I think I understand myself more than ever. I seem to feel more deeply, cherish my time and my family more, and do my best to live in the moment. It is an amazing feeling of freedom I have never felt before. It really is quite incredible. My mother once told me, “You don’t want to be a middle-aged woman trying to get your life under control.” I disagree. I think this is the time when life starts to make sense and we become true to ourselves.

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“I like big books and I cannot lie.”

Christine’s books

To Kill a Mockingbird

by Harper Lee

The Diary of a Young Girl

by Anne Frank

1984

by George Orwell

Pride and Prejudice

by Jane Austen

Animal Farm

by George Orwell

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I got this from another Pintrest Post, but I can’t find the original This turned out great!
Pinned via web

I love Pintrest! I have several projects I’d like to try, but this is my first. I’m one of those people that wishes she were crafty, and since I’m not I copy other people’s stuff Even then, the original is almost always better, but I don’t care at all. I just love doing this kind of stuff!

I can’t seem to find the original post for this, but I remembered the directions and put it together. Click on the Crafts Page on the right for instructions~

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Facebook, however, has amplified the feeling that time is slipping away! I see people post things like this:

1. OMG we are going to be parents! We’ve been married for 8 years, how is it time already?!

2. I can’t believe my son/daughter just got their driving licence! Where did time go?!

3. My husband is coming home after 18 months overseas with the troops. Time is dragging so slowly…can’t wait to see him!

4. OMG the baby is on the way! Will keep you posted! Where did the time go?

5. I’m posting pictures of my son/daughter going off to kindergarten. I feel like he/she was just born! How can this be?

Of course, these are all relatively happy things that result in “Likes” and virtual hugs, wishes of good luck, and blessings sent. There are the sad ones too:

1. My grandfather passed away today. Miss you grandpa! Where did the time go?

2. Jackson (not my son) has been at Children’s for 10 months and is fighting another infection. He’s only 8.

3. My wife/husband and I have decided to divorce. It has been a long 5 year fight, but it’s time to go our separate ways. Has it been 5 years already?

4. Our house flooded today because of a broken water pipe. All of my holiday decorations and pictures of loved ones are ruined. It will take ages to clean this up!

5. Our high school friend died today. Please call me or message me for details about the service. I need your support, and would like to offer mine. Have we really reached that age that our friends start dying?

These are the ones that make us pause. These are the ones that make us take a secret sigh of relief that it’s not us this time; tragedy has knocked on someone else’s door.

All of these things, good and bad, remind us that time is going by too damn fast. We sometimes live vicariously through the posts of others, wishing we could fly to the Bahamas, afford a new car, buy a huge new house, and give expensive presents. We get upset, angry, jealous, and sad when we see others get more than we have.

Facebook, however, also give us the chance to see pictures of nieces and nephews who live far away hit milestones in their lives. We see people come up out of emotional darkness, come to spiritual understandings, come to terms with difficulties and not only survive, but thrive. We watch them celebrate LIFE.

Do I feel that life is zipping by faster than I can comprehend? Yes. Are there moments I wish I could savor forever? Without a doubt. Are there days that break my heart and cause me to wish time would go faster….just so I can come out the other side of sadness? Of course. However, I don’t think Facebook is a bad thing at all. It makes me feel old sometimes, but I’d rather feel old than never make some of the great connections I have.

Do I want life to stop? Absolutely not. I want to continue to share in the moments of people I care about. Sure, there are people on my Friends list I hardly talk to, and there are times when I purge the list, but in general, I like to keep the lines of communication open.

Just in case something amazing happens.

Because time, does indeed, go by too fast.

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YOU MUST visit Pinterst! You need an invitation, so ask around…most likely, someone you know is a member. If not, ask me! It’s free!

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So, I found all of these on allrecipes.com, Food.com, and FoodNetwork.com. I love the look of all of them. I won’t be able to try all of them, but if you chose one, let me know how it goes!

Merry Christmas and happy eating

For full recipes, please click on the Breakfast and the Dinner Pages on the Right~

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Apparently, I have raised children that are afraid of losing limbs just because it’s 20 degrees outside. This is a frustrating time of year for everyone, and the last thing I need are squirrley children climbing the walls. As I write this, they are currently having an epic battle over a plastic army guy, a Matchbox car, and a piece of string. If they don’t knock it off soon, I am tempted to physically toss them outside with coats, boots, mittens, and hats to follow.

In order to keep my sanity this Christmas Break, I am going to have to find things for these two to do before I hunker down in a darkened room with a bottle of wine, a security blanket, and a copy of Barry Manilow’s “Because it’s Christmas” CD.

So Yakima, here are some options…just in case you are as close to the edge as I am

INKLINGS BOOKSHOP STORY TIME. 10 a.m. toddler story time each Tuesday. Chalet Place, 5629 Summitview Ave., Yakima; 509-965-5830.

KIDS’ CASTLE 2-FOR-1 DAY. Open at 10 a.m.; call for closing. Two kids play for the price of one. Cost: $2.50 up to age 2; ages 3 and older are $5.25 for one hour or $8 unlimited; weekend rates are higher. Clean socks required. Located inside Gymnastics Plus, 2121 W. Lincoln Ave., Yakima; 509-453-8126.

THE CHILDREN’S UNDERGROUND @ The Yakima Valley Museum. The Underground is open Monday-Friday from 1pm-5pm. Admission to the Children’s Underground with paid admission to the museum.

YAKIMA VALLEY REGIONAL LIBRARY CALENDAR With 18 regional branches, the Yakima Regional Library has lots of events and a very full calendar! Two events are listed below, but check out their calendar for even more.

CHRISTMAS CRAFT DAY FOR KIDS @ the Moxee Library. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Christmas crafts for kids. 255 W. Seattle, Moxee; 509-575-8854.

TEEN TUESDAY @ the Selah Library. 3:30-4:30 p.m. Tuesdays. Teens can hang out and enjoy fun activities. 106 South Second Street, Selah; 509-698-7345.

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So, in honor of my upcoming celebrations (1 day, 29 hours, 1,754 minutes), here are some cocktail recipes I am sure to enjoy!

For full recipes and instructions, click on the Snacks and Appetizers Page on the right~

Thanks to:

Foodandwine.com

thebar.com

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