Bits & Pieces

My life has been a series of random events lately, but apparently one of them is not blogging! How’s about a little catch up on the current events of my life?


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Some people at my company decided to start up a Biggest Loser challenge for anyone who’d like to participate. It ended up being such a big turnout that the company got behind it and has even tossed in a prize option to the biggest loser. 45 of us have teamed up, contributed some cash, and are vying to be the winner of most of the money plus the choice of either a big screen television or a one year gym membership. (2nd place gets part of the money.)

I’m excited to be participating and have already lost some poundage (not to mention I feel great and my skin is healthier!), but I don’t think I stand an actual chance at winning. There are several men in the challenge that have already lost 10+ pounds, which is typical since men tend to lose faster. My only hope is that they’ll burn out faster than slow but steady me.

There’s also the factor that apparently people were bulking up and drinking lots of water in the days and hours before the first weigh in. That hardly seems fair to me. They say it’s not cheating, but what about those of us who stuck to our usual routine and didn’t pull any such stunts? If one of them wins, I’ll at least be smart enough not to join again.

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We found out just over a week ago that our son was being harassed at school by some kids, and that it had been going on for some time. Unbeknownst to me he’d been bearing the brunt of it until finally he broke down and it all spilled out. As his mom, not only was my heart breaking to see him so beaten down, but I also felt like showing up at the school the next morning to crack some eight year old skulls together.

Would that have been wrong?

I decided to go the “grown up” route *sigh* and contacted the teacher and vice principal. They were shocked by what had been going on and took immediate action. Not only did those kids get called in and lose a few privileges, but they had to call their own parents and tell them what they had been doing. I admit I did a little fist pump when the VP told me this on the phone. Charlie has never been on the giving end of bullying, but he has done more than his share of foolish things, as well as some hitting, and I think it was important for him to see that the adults are there to protect him as much as they are to reprimand him. The harassment had been going on long enough that he thought nobody cared.

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I enjoyed a girl’s night out this week with a few of my closest friends. We gabbed while we ate Chinese food. We gabbed while we went to a local coffee house. And we gabbed at Starbucks after the local place (surprisingly) closed their doors at 8:30 p.m.! Apparently it doesn’t take much to make us happy. Just being together is what we all needed and welcomed – I love it when that happens.

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Outside of my little world there is a lot going on in the lives of other people. Specifically in Haiti. I had been feeling sick about what’s happening over there but also helpless because there’s very little I can do to help. Sure, I can text a code and it donates $10, but I wanted to be able to do more. Unfortunately, extra money is not in the cards these days now that I’m back to one income again. After some thought I finally had what I hope was a good idea.

I sent out an email to my scrapbooking customers and told them that any orders placed on a certain date next week will have 100% of the profits donated to Mercy Corps by me. Better still, my company is currently matching any donations made to Mercy Corps, so every dollar I send will be doubled. How incredible is that?! I’m excited for next week to come to see what we end up with. No matter how small the number, I know that every little bit will help, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to do it.

Have a wonderful weekend!