DeputyDelirium

I was having too many technical difficulites (and trust me, with my life I don't need any more difficulties. Thank you.) here on blogspot, so I've upgraded to a dotcom!


You can now visit me at http://www.deputydelirium.com/


Same ol' quirky, random, OCD me but in a new and improved happy place. Ahhh. Do you feel the sun on your face, the whisper of the wildflowers blowing in the breeze, and a faint hum of a dragon fly passing by? Me neither, but it was worth a try.

Also, you will need to re-follow me (or as I am calling it being my Fan since Follower has such a stalker feel to it) PLEASE!!! You have no idea how my self esteem is boosted when I see that someone is my fan. Invite your friends too! I understand that you'll have to sign up for a Google account to be my fan, but I will well make it worth your while. :)

Have you missed me? ;)



Recently I have had blog ideas in my head like you wouldn't believe! However, I have been very sick for a while now and am experiencing some difficulties in getting all of those ideas on here. [insert BIG sad face here]. I am hoping that I have reached the worst part of what I'm dealing with and will be back to myself in a couple of days. Then watch out! It's going to be a Blogapalooza!!!

may I also suggest "Ode To Joy" by Beaker on Youtube? Quite funny.

This one is my all time favorite. Seriously, I love these guys.

I want to tell you a short story. I went to Lubbock High School back in the 80's. Diversity was the norm. The school was full of character and spirit. I loved it there. I had many friends and felt like I could mingle with just about any social group there. Back then, as a teenager, I had a couple of very close friends and a lot of acquaintences. This story is about one of those acquaintances whom I have grown to love as a sister these 20 years later. I miss her, admire her, cry with her, and thrive on the 'boosts' she gives me. I feel important in the small things that I have to offer. So let me tell you about this amazing woman.



This is Michelle. I knew her as Michelle Burns in high school. A quiet girl that I didn't take the chance to get to know very well. We hung out with the same people, but it was a large group of people. We talked and giggled, but we didn't get to be heart to heart. Isn't her family gorgeous? Isn't *she* gorgeous? Michelle, and her husband Joel, have three children. This picture has only two of them in it. Yes, the Duyck (pronounced Duck) family is beautiful. And their hearts are as bright as their countenances. (picture has Presley, Michelle, Joel, and little Camden)

I am an organized person. I am a creative person. I am a person that relies on schedule and routine. Generally. For some reason this year I have become unorganized, more overwhelmed than usual, and extremely ADD. Not what you think, it's the "Adult Dug Disorder". You know, the dog in the movie "Up", the one that has a special collar that allows him to speak and really wants Carl to know how much . . . .SQUIRREL! Yeah. That's me. I start one thing and *poof* a squirrel catches my attention and away I go . . . . like right now when I am totally off topic from where I wanted to be.

Anywho, I have thrown some pretty cool parties. For multiple occassions. I have had a homemade pie contest where I actually made bronze, silver, and gold spatulas for the winners. I helped mastermind a red carpet event for my Girl Scouts and their Build-A-Bears complete with awards to the pets. (yes, I believe that my daughter's pet won the most glitzy award) I even had this event catered with finger ham and chesse and peanut butter and jelly finger sandwiches and mini pies. There was a backdrop for pictures to be taken and sunglasses for all. I have done numerous birthday parties. From lady bugs to arks, and my personal favorite just 3 years ago; Atalie's "Orange You Glad I'm Turning 7" party where *everything* was orange. I requested the guests to dress appropriately. Orange is Atalie's favorite color and I was pressed for time. Don't judge. My Halloween parties are the best, at least *I* think so. Our 4th of July get togethers are a blast (hardy har har) with food for more than an army, fireworks that could have sent a child to college had we saved the money, and gift bags complete with all of the garb a child could need to celebrate with style. Not to mention my kids' Valentine's Breakfast. Heart shaped pancakes served by Greg and a friend, crafts, swapping homemade valentine cards . . . oh yes, I love a good party. I love the planning, the creating of invitations, the decorations, the food, the guests, and the love I feel from friends and family when my efforts are noticed.

2010 has wiped me out. On December 29th, 2009 my teens had their friends over for a New Year's Eve party, yes, early. We did a taco bar and I bought markers for them all to use to draw on our walls in the playroom upstairs. It's an unfinished room so it was fine, and they did a nice job. They played Wii and other games and at somwhere close to midnight we had fireworks. Well, crackers. Close enough in my book. Everyone had a great time, one of Colleen's friends even told me that I 'rocked' and gave me a high five. (she's awesome) So why is it that I am now into the 3rd birthday party of the year and I am struggling to get energized for it? My teenagers have given up on me. I think I peetered out on them 2 years ago and have just had their friends over for some fun, with the exception of Colleen's sweet 16, which we had a professional banner made for and hired a clown and face paniter etc. yeah, it was the bomb. But now I am about to celebrate the lives of my 10 & 12 year olds and the piddlefartty person in me is asking them, "why don't we just do a pool party in the backyard and a campfire with hotdogs and smore's?" Their birthdays are 7 and 17 days away from now respectively! I feel like a terrible mom. I used to be so good and now I've lost the juice. What happened to me? Blech. I'll let you know how the parties go down. Pray for my 5 year old, his birthday is in November. Maybe I should start thinking about that one now.

If anyone finds my party Muse wandering around out there, could you redirect her to my house? My family would appreciate it muchly.

uh, are you still fixated on the word piddlefartty? just ask me , I'll tell.

Many of you saw that I had a really hard time blogging about friendship yesterday. It got a bit messy and emotional, as will happen when thinking about one's friends. Past, present, good and bad. (and yes, there are some not so good friends out there) Today I have conquered those emotions and have taken a different direction, still saying what I wanted to say. I think.

I remember in grade school, at dear old Parson's Elementary, that I had a hard time with which came first. The 'i' or the 'e'. I still have a hard time with that one and fall back on the "I before E except after C" rule when spelling something. It's one of the very few 'rules' in English that somewhat makes sense to me. But that is another blog. A kind, yet oddly smelling, teacher leaned over my desk one day and asked me why I was so frustrated in my spelling lesson. I told her I couldn't figure out the "i" and "e" thing in the word friend. She told me that the spelling is much like the person, a true friend is there till the 'end'. "Friends to the end" she said. I've remembered that for these some 20 years. (okay, who am I kidding? these some 30 years)

Dictionary.com defines the word friend as: "A person whom one knows, likes, and trusts." and Webster's Dictionary says a friend is: "the scarcest thing on earth. A rare visitor, but he can come around a few times in a lifetime."

Do you agree?

In my opinion one of the most key components to a true friendship is the shoulder. As defined in the dictionary in it's verb form, shoulder means: "to carry or place, to take on or assume." So, a friend's shoulder is there to cry on, to lean on, to bear another's burden, to lift, and to support. Maybe even to push on every now and again in the fits of laughter or to point in the right direction. If you think about it for even a tiny bit more you can think of other uses for the shoulder in a friendship. If our shoulders were not strong how would we be able to carry all of those shopping bags we acquire while we are out with our freinds spending quality time together? And what area is extremely important in lifting the spoon from a banana split or piece of rich cheesecake than the shoulder? We can also tend each other's children by holding a crying baby or pushing a toddler on their bike, freeing our friend some time to spend with their spouse or just to rejuvenate.

What do you consider 'friend' traits? Are *you* a good friend? Would you be friends with yourself?

I've learned that I have many acquaintances and few friends. But, after a long internal battle, I'm okay with that. The ones who have gotten to know me and love me anyway, who let me cry then tell me to get back in the game, the ones who can go to my cupboards and get themselves a drink, the ones who make me feel beautiful without make up, the ones who stick by me when they could easily turn their backs, the ones who are sarcastic with me and whom I don't feel like I have to be something I'm not; those are rare, and I am ever so grateful to have them. Both near and far, ones that I have gone many places with, and those I have yet to meet. I am very lucky to have you.

Take care of those shoulders friends, you never know when they may be needed!

Today's chore for me ended up being Blogtastic. The dreaded unfinished, uninsulated, unorganized playroom. We have some very important people coming to our house on Sunday and I would like them to see that we can sometimes not live like pigs in a pen. I know they'll love me no matter what my house looks like, but still, I'd prefer my home to be on it's best behavior.

I wish I had thought to take a 'before' picture and an 'after' picture so you could see exactly what a workout this chore was. I swear, I should have lost at least 3 pounds with all the bending and lifting and throwing I did. Alas, that was not the case. Bummer. However, I did get to have a little fun with a trunk full of Legos. No, I did not build fabulous buildings, I took them from 2 small buckets and one *HUGE* bucket and combined them into a cedar trunk. Let me tell you what a fight it was, as I was separating millions (and NO, this is not an exageration!) of tiny pieces, to *NOT* put each color Lego into it's own container. No kidding . . .I was shaking by the time I was half way through the project! It took all the self control I could muster to keep them all together in one place. Because, face it, if I had separated them by color then I most likely would have wanted to separate them by size or shape, and that would just prove how mad I am. Where would it stop? Which is more important to the Lego builder anyway? Size? Color? Fact of the matter is: Legos drive me crazy. They hurt when I step on them. They are a choking hazard. They end up in ridicuous places. And, by darn it, there are too many flippin' ways to organize them. And it's not like the kids care about any of these factors. They just want to play and be creative. Use their imaginations for hours on end, the one thing I do love about these toys. And when they are done, they just want to throw them willy-nilly into a container and be done.

So, I was very proud of myself when I had the trunk full of random shapes and sizes and colors of Legos. Now my brilliantly imaginative children can put them away quickly and easily.

Not that they will.

After I was done with the project I looked down at my success with a sense of pride and had to smile a little. But as I stood there something else flew into my head, hey wait! There are body parts and other things that could be separated out too . . .but I didn't. Instead I played a little game. I Spy. I know, a little crazy for a mom of 5 to be standing over a trunk of Legos playing a solitaire game of I Spy, still in her pajams no less at 2:00 in the afternoon. Don't judge me. Instead, be crazy with me and play along;

I Spy: 2 fruit loops. (really? how long have they been in there? gross!) 1 treasure chest, with gold in it even, 1 best friend to a pirate, 1 can of fuel, the weapon of an axe murderer, 2 doors, Oh! That's where the button is! No I can stop playing "Button, Button, Whose got the button?", a headless Chewbaca, a bodiless Spiderman, and more body parts than I feel comfortable counting.

Did you find it all? :) I feel very accomplished at getting the playroom more viewable. The rest of the house awaits. I wonder what other games I can come up with to entertain myself while I work . . .

(Colleen and Adam, the house may not be at it's best, but hey, I'm trying)

I love the movie "10 Things I Hate About You". In fact, my Aunt Sara and I can put the movie on mute and pretty much recite the whole darn thing. I have many favorite parts, but lately one has been sticking out in my mind.

For those of you not familiar with the flick, shame on you. However, I will overlook it and catch you up to the quote that cracks me up. Bianca Stratford can't date until her socially inept older sister, Kat, does. Kat doesn't care about dating and has an interesting detest for the opposite sex in general. Binaca is starving for a social life and has convinced Kat to go out with a guy a couple times so Bianca could be her natural self, a social butterfly. So, Bianca wants to go to prom, but Kat is against the whole thing and refuses to go. Bianca pleads to her father, who is an OBGYN and never lets the girls forget it, to let her go without Kat. Now, you are caught up to the conversation that has had me giggling on the inside for the past couple of days.

Walter Stratford: Do you know what happens at proms?
Bianca: Yes, we'll dance, we'll kiss, we'll come home. It's not quite the crisis situation you imagine.
Walter Stratford: Kissing? That what you think happens? I've got news for you. Kissing isn't what keeps me up to my elbows in placenta all day long.
Bianca: Can we, for two seconds, ignore the fact that you're severely unhinged and discuss my need for a night of teenage normalcy?
Walter Stratford: What's normal? Those darn . . . Dawson's river kids sleeping in each other's beds and what not?
Bianca: Daddy, that is so not . . .
Walter Stratford: I've got news for you. I'm down, I've got the 411, and you're not going out and getting jiggy with some boy, I don't care how dope his ride is. Momma didn't raise no fool.

At this point Bianca is completely frsutrated with her father and storms off.

So, Walter, I too am down. I know that when I see "Spencers" written on my grocery list that I need to get bananas. I know that when my kids ask to "spover" at a friend's, that they need to pack a toothbrush and clean clothes. I m gud @ txtin' 2 let kids know, 'u r l8!' and other similar phrases. When Colleen and Cameron see a 'big bird' they think that Greg and I are being too affectionate. As if!

I may have become my parents in thinking that my kids' music is 'just noise' and wonder how they can understand anything the artist is singing, or be repeating the same things my parents did when I was a teen;"did you brush your teeth? are you wearing deoderant? what time will you be home? who are you going to be with? will there be adults there? remember who you are! where are your manners?" etc. But I am grateful that when I am a bit confused with what is going on in my own home to the spawn I created and am raising to someday become me (ha, ha, ha!) that they are willing to catch me up. Keep me down with the 411 and whatnot. I love that they aren't embarrassed of me and still invite friends to come over. So I can show off my sick conversing skills. :)

Now a message from my 'business' side . . .

I have been a Stampin' Up! demonstrator for over 10 years now. My sister recruited me when she moved from the Seattle area and gave me her customers, who quickly became good friends. Most things in paper crafts are constantly changing but one thing that you can be certain of is this; the beginning of June marks a sad day in the Stampin' Up! catalog. So many goodies are retired and are in need of a loving home. You can make this month a happy day for several stamp sets, ribbons, buttons, cardstaock, wheels, home decor (vinyl) and so much more! Grab the items you love before they're gone. And yes, rumor is correct, there are more than 20 colors that will be leaving. Stock up! Then, after we've mourned any losses, we'll all take our big girl pills, buck up a little bit, and be ready to welcome in the new sets, the new accessories, the new vinyl, *and* the new colors starting in July. They are all proving to be sassy, vibrant, and a lot of fun to play with. I can't wait to go to convention in July to see designs and learn new things from the best of the best. Yippee! The 2010-2011 Idea Book and Catalogs will be ready the first part of July and I will be selling them to you as soon as I can get my hands on them. Reserve your copy now! Book a workshop or host a Stamp-A-Stash (e*mail me for details) to get a jump start on your wish list. I'd love to help you with your card making and scrapbooking projects. And SU! has a recruiting special right now as well. (scroll down a bit, you'll see it) This doesn't happen very often!

If you can't tell, I am very excited about what is coming up as far as my hobby goes. I am no longer in denial thinking what I do is a business. Ha! I don't make money! I do it because it feeds my soul and I get to hang out with some incredibly creative people who never cease to inspire me. Besides, it's a lot less expensive and more fun than therapy. I don't fool myself into thinking that I am going to recruit the world. I don't pressure people into parties or orders or anything that they don't want to do. I just like to let people know and see what I do and if it suits them then GREAT! I may not be as successful as some stay-at-home business women, but this is how I prefer it.

I have been looking for places to go to keep the scriptures interesting and tangible for my kids. It helps them (and me) learn more if there is some interaction. I thought I would share with you what I've found. This is the first one that I am excited about.
The Book of Mormon for Toddlers http://www.bomt.co.nz/
This next one even has a Scripture Reading Challenge for the summertime. Sweet!
Scriptures 4 Kids http://www.scriptures4kids.com
I'm going to keep an eye out for more, but these 2 are a great start. Do *you* have any suggestions for me?

In September we moved into the home we have been building for . . .well, I'm not going there. This picture is part of the acre and a quarter that we live on.
Greg has offered the kids $1.00 per 5 gallon bucket they fill of rocks and haul off the hill. As you can see, there is a lot of opportunity here, and the kids are getting tired . . .
Anyone out there need a job? We're accepting applications.

There's been craze lately for people who want to reconnect, support, and keep up on the latest with others they have relationships with. A place where you can go and chat with people who make you laugh, feel good about yourself, and in general put a smile on your face. You can be yourself with those you choose to stay in contact with, you don't have to put on a facade for those who annoy you or don't lift your spirits becuase, quite frankly, you can choose who your friends are. Day or night you can find someone to talk to. Post pictures of the family for others to see and in return see pictures of people who have moved so many times your address book is unreadable for all the erasing you've done. Take a stroll down memory lane, vent frustrations and ask for advice, cry on someone's virtual shoulder when life just isn't going as planned, raise up another when they are having a difficult time.
I've been a part of this craze. For over a year I have reconnected with friends from high school, the group I hung around at church/youth camps/dances. Relatives that live far away, and even people I admired in high school but was never 'cool' enough to be a friend to. And I have become friends with some of their friends, that I have never met but have things in common with. Want to know what I've learned about these groups from high school? Without their brand name purses, high hair, and huge hooped earrings, they are just regular people like me. Raising their kids, loving their families, and trying to make it through life the best that they can. We're all on the same level now, and I am enjoying their company as much as I always thought I would.
I have learned many things from this place I call an outlet. I have learned to be more empathetic, a little less serious, and how to walk a mile in someone else's shoes. I have laughed, I have definitely cried, and I have felt at peace there. But let me tell you what else I have learned from this place called "FB".
I have learned that my daughter has a knack for budgeting her money. My son finds new music to try to learn on his guitar. My husband is really more humble than I give him credit for. I have seen happy faces at the sight of a lost platypus, heard the squeels of delight when a chicken coop has been completed, and the long serious chats between to sisters as they try to decide what outfit they should put on their virtual pet or redecorate their fish tanks. I love having the chat box open up with a "hi mom! how are you?"
I know that my friends on FB get tired of my posting special eggs, sending random hearts, asking for more chickens. (learn to hide applications my dear friends!) But I'm not going to give up those games that my children and I play together.
I am a good mother. Above average even. I play with my kids (we love games), I go outside with my kids, we watch movies/TV together, I help with homework etc. so I don't want you to think that I am not hands on with them and the computer is our only source of communication. It's just 'another' source of communication, and trust me, with teens you will take as many options as you can.
So, FB. What are you? What is your purpose? Why are you so addicting? To the general public your FB initials stand for FaceBook. A gathering of people that you don't always get to see face to face, but whom you can remain close to. Exactly the reason why I also consider you a FamilyBond. I don't substitute my computer for actual contact, but when their is no other way I will continue to use FB. Family far, and near can still be close thanks to technology.

As Spring is approaching and the stores are lining their shelves with the new and upcoming fashions, I stand back and ask myself, "who wears some of this stuff?". Okay, besides the size 2's and the 10 year olds. And maybe some people who really shouldn't be allowed to wear them.
We have taught our children to be modest in their dress. Nothing too short, too scoopy, to revealing, too tight etc. You feel how you are dressed, so if you are comfortable and appropriate then you will be on your best behavior, right? Okay, it was worth a shot.
So I look in a lot of places to buy Spring/Summer clothing. A lot of times I end up online. Especially for my teenaged daughter. Have you seen how flimsy some of those t-shirts truly are? Now we aren't of the sort where we insist on our girls always be in dresses to their ankles and everything needs to be covered completely. Our kids wear shorts, thick strapped tank tops, and one piece bathing suits. Regular attire. When I was searching tonight for dresses for myself and Colleen I came upon a suggestion on visiting Mikarose. www.mikarose.com Great selection of modest yet trendy dresses, skirts, and tops. Great prices. I think I will become a regular.
Now I'd like to know, is there anyone else out there that feels that the runway has runout on modesty?

My daughter, Atalie, who is 9 years old and in the 4th grade, has been walking around everywhere singing songs like "Blue Suede Shoes", "I Want to Hold Your Hand", "Rockin' Roll is Here to Stay", "Tutti Fruiti", and "Surfin' USA". I've been loving it. She says that she really likes the "oldies but goodies". When I was her age I remember my mom introducing me to songs such as "Tiptoe Through The Tulips", and "Buttons and Bows" from when she was a child.
Anyway, Atalie (and Keegan, but he could care less) is singing these songs at their school music program for the 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade's parents. I can't wait. I seem to get a sense of pride when I see my kids singing on stage like I did. Especially when they love it. Atalie loves it. Colleen still loves it as well and is very active in the high school choir program. However, I have started to wonder exaclty what my grandchildren will be singing when I go to see them in their elementary's music performance. What their "oldies but goodies" will be. Perhaps a little Journey or the Eagles? Kenny Rogers, Johnny Cash or George Strait? Throw in a few bands like New Kids on the Block, Backstreet Boys, and the Spice Girls? Someday a teenager is going to want to imitate Pink's aerial performance of "Sober". I am sure they will go so far as to sing well loved songs from Michael Jackson the way Atalie sings Elvis.
Sometimes it boggles my mind when I think about the changes in the future. Even now I find myself telling my 13 year old son, 'Cameron, turn down that noise' and, 'how can you listen to that stuff? they aren't even singing, they're just yelling!' Yup, things my parents told me.
When I was in 9th grade our choir put on a performance called Swanee. We looked forward to the show all year long. We even got to try out to sing solos and duets. I sang "Bye-Bye Love". What a great experience, my mom was truly proud of me. I wonder how I will feel when/if my granddaughter has her spotlight solo singing, "Papa Don't Preach".
Hmmm . . .

Have you seen this show? The Buried Life 10PM on Mondays on MTV. Next week is their last show of the season. :-( Bummer. 4 guys, 1 question. What do you want to do before you die? These guys have a 'bucket list' of 100 things they want to do before they die. As they drive their bus, Penelope, across the country crossing off things on their list, they also find a stranger and help them cross off one of their goals on their list. Why? To encourage people to go out there and find their dreams and accomplish the impossible. These guys make my Monday (along with www.newthingmonday.com and My Life As Liz)
I've always felt too young to have a bucket list (I hate that term) but after seeing so many amazing things on this show I'm going to start one. Here are a few of what I came up with:
*be certified in ASL so I could become an interpreter for the legally deaf
*be a music teacher in an elementary school
*have an enormous family picture on both sides of my families
*visit Greece, Turkey, Egypt, Denmark, Ireland, Spain, Norway, and the Panama Canal
*have a reunion with the people I grew up with in the Lubbock Stake in Lubbock, TX
*spend a week in Hershey, PA
*learn to sew
*get married again, to my same best friend (Greg), but do it better the second time
*grow a pumpkin patch that elementary kids could come to as a field trip
*travel the country with my husband in an RV
These are just a few, but a start. You can't start on anything if you don't know what it is first right? And you are more likely to reach a goal that you have written down.
So, if 4 strangers came up to you and asked you, "What do you want to do before you die?" what would you say?
http://theburiedlife.com/about/

I love my mother and father-in-law. How many of you can say that? It's not anything showy that they do. They are pretty quiet people that live in a touristy Bavarian village on the other side of the mountains from us. Where the sun shines. Even when it's 22 degrees outside.