The Denim Tirade

Well... it's that time again... Time to go jean shopping.

I hate jean shopping for several reasons. The first of which is that it requires me to trade in my broken-in jeans for stiff, new ones. Nevermind that the jeans I'm wearing as I type are almost a full size too big, have been safety pinned to keep them from falling down, and are wearing quite thin between the thighs (as is the usual demise of my jeans...)

But the reason I hate it most right now is that I don't fit into any size. The bigger size is too loose, the smaller size is too tight. I would buy the smaller size, because I know they will stretch out, but in the meantime I look foolish and feel very uncomfortable.

(Now, I will (proudly) admit to having lost a bit of weight since the last time I went jean shopping, but I'm scared to death that it won't have made the slightest difference. I'd almost rather not know that I STILL don't fit into the smaller size jeans.)

And once I have selected the new pair, I will be faced in 6 months or so with the same problem: the dreaded thigh-wear-out. I know I'm not the only person who has this problem, so I'm just going to put it out there.

I tell you, Old Navy is making a mint off of me because I have to buy a new pair of jeans so often!

This time, I'm taking matters into my own hands! I'm not putting jeans out to pasture because of this problem anymore! I'm saying no! I'm being proactive!

My one and only thought is ScotchGuard. I'm not sure if this will really help the problem or not, but I think it's worth a shot. My operating theory is that the ScotchGuard will act as a sort of lubricant, reducing the friction as I walk. If anyone has a better idea, I'd love to hear it.

I'll let you know if this works. Wish me luck!

*UPDATE*

I bought new jeans, and I'm ecstatic to say that they're the smaller size! There might be hope for me yet!!! :D

Experiences

To start, I must say that I'm saddened that only Cam seems to want a gift made by me. What? Do you guys not think I'm talented? Because I am.

On to my real post...

I have been tagged, which means that I get to do yet another unoriginal post instead of spending my dwindling energy on coming up with something witty. (Yay!!!)

So. The idea here is that you go through the list and make bold all items that apply to you. So here goes...

Have you:
1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a Solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch - I think cooking counts here.
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been on television
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud - I know you think I've always been prissy, but I assure you I have played in mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check - much to my shame...
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club - that didn't last long. We were pathetic.
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a lawsuit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Totally copied a post from someone's blog to your own

Pay It Forward

Lucky Me! I get a present made by the beautiful Kalee! But the real excitement is that it is now my privilege to make the same offer that was made to me...

The first five people to leave a comment for this post will get a present made by me! My choice. For you.
This offer does have some restrictions and limitations:
1 - I make no guarantees that you will like what I make! (Though I certainly hope you do! I may ask some questions during the process.)
2 - What I create will be just for you.
3 - It'll be done this year (might take a little while).
4 - You have no clue what it's going to be. It might be a frame, or jewelry. I may make you some cards. I may bake you something for you. Who knows? Not you, that's for sure!

The catch? Oh yes, the catch is that you must re-post this on your blog and make the same offer to the first 5 people who leave a comment and promise to keep sharing the love. The first 5 people to do so win a wonderful homemade gift from yours truly!

PS: If you don't blog, never fear, you can still play along. But you have to promise to make 5 gifts yourself, or perform 5 random acts of kindness to qualify for your present. I don't want anyone to be excluded. I'm an equal-opportunity gifter.

I {Verb}

I'm not feeling clever enough to come up with something of my own to say, so I'm copying.
Saw this on someone else's blog and thought it looked like fun. You can do it, too, if you want to.

*I search: for my keys, every morning, and they are always in the same place...
*I wonder: what other people really think about me.
*I regret: failing so many college classes.
*I love: Preston.
*I care: about families and marriage and the direction we are taking them as a society.
*I always: want a nap.
*I worry: that Preston will be permanently damaged from all the sleep he misses when he stays up late doing homework.
*I am not: perfect. And I'm not too worried about that.
*I remember: when I took time to clean our apartment. Those were nice days. I miss them.
*I believe: in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I believe in Jesus Christ, and I believe that Heavenly Father loves each and every one of us.
*I sing: beautifully.
*I dance: poorly.
*I don’t always: floss. Or vacuum...
*I argue: that many of the world's ills would be cured by truly learning to listen to one another.
*I write: lists on sticky notes.
*I win: the office prize for best leftover lunches.
*I lose: my train of thought a lot.
*I wish: I had time to do all of the things I think about.
*I listen: to mellow music.
*I don't understand: Republicans, but I respect our differences.
*I can usually be found: on the computer at the kitchen table.
*I am scared: of crickets and other basically harmless buggies.
*I need: a dishwasher. (A haircut and some jeans that fit would be nice, too.)
*I forget: that I'm no longer a size 10. And then I remember and it's unpleasant.
*I am happy: most of the time. It would be hard not to be happy being married to Preston. :)