Etsy Front Page 12/22/08 spongetta

Etsy Front Page 12/22/08 spongetta,
originally uploaded by Etsy Front Pagers.

I can't believe I finally made it to the front page of etsy! I am so thrilled...of course I missed it but was fortunate enough to find out about it after a search of the treasury. I saw that gold star in Spongetta's treasury and then read the comments..and noticed all of the 'congrats of FP' comments left there. I could not find a screen shot of it until now...after realizing I was searching the wrong flickr group for it! Thank you Spongetta!!!

What a week!!!

Well I am sure that many of you know that the Northeast of the U.S. has suffered a very bad ice storm this past week. Unfortunately, we here were right in the middle of the madness. Last Thursday night we lost power...and if you me then you know I am a big city girl at heart and do not enjoy anything remotely resembling "Little House on the Prairie"! Not that I am high maintenance or anything because I am not but I NEED the basics. Those basics have been electricity, cable, phone, internet and HOT water! If even one or two of those elements are missing from everyday life then I am not very pleasant to be around. So, imagine if NONE of those elements are present? Now add the fact that those elements are all missing and for 4+ days!!! We didn't even know what was going on around us as we had no access to local tv broadcasts..everything we have for phone, cable internet are with one company and when that company is down then we are screwed...But the absolute worse part was no electricity..and no means to heat our hot water tank!! WE did however have a generator that is wired in to our electrical box but the items on it are limited. You would not believe the expense we have gone through in gasoline to run the generator for all those hours!! Yikes!! But it could have been worse..we could have been dealing with last month's gas prices.. I had no access to my etsy shop for all of those days too which really put a huge damper on my holiday sales as I had many great promotions set up to offer...My daughter was able to travel to her college to check on internet correspondences...so she was able to get back to those customers who contacted me during that time..But that is it...The ironic thing about being without all of my usuals is that once I got them back..like cable, there was NOTHING on..over 200 channels...so I shut it off and watched some more DVD's like I had been doing all week...I have to say..taking a shower..a hot one..was an absolute joy today!! It does make one appreciate those small things we tend to take for granted...We are very fortunate to have gotten our power back as there are still over 100,000 homes still without power! Many of those homes are being told that they may not have power back until Christmas!!! Some areas were so bad that the town's entire electrical system has to be rebuilt! Amazing and a testament to the awesome-ness of nature...all of this was created from rain...then the temperature plummeted that evening...and voila!! We lost quite a few large branches from our big trees in the backyard..a few hitting the house but no real damage..If you stood outside you could actually hear all of the trees cracking and falling down all over the neighborhood..The damage was unbelievable...along with those downed trees were an astronomical amount of downed power lines...The thing that really sustained me was knowing that so many others were experiencing the same thing as we were..and everyone else we saw was unshowered too..so the stink and dirty hair was acceptable..I don't ever want to go through that again BUT I choose to live in New England....so the possibility is always there...That's it for now....I am trying to get myself get caught back up on all the missed work and laundry and everything else..so...until later..

The holidays are fast approaching!!!

Hello all!!! Well it's that time of year...again! I swear I am still paying off last year's Wii purchase! This year is going to be a very tight one...gift wise. I know the holiday's should never be about what you can give and what everyone should get but with a 16 and 21 year old at home, that whole idea never flies! Although, I must confess, my kids have never been ones to ever complain about the amount and types of gifts they receive. They really are grateful in that respect! But, it is the mother in me, you know..the one who has to do better than their own mother..and show their kids just how much they love them? Yep! That's me...I want them to have and not need for anything. I want them to feel as if they can and will have those 'things' they really want...nothing wrong with that...except that this year all of that has gone out the window. We are feeling the crunch..the one everyone else is going through too..well almost everyone anyhow. So, what's a mother to do? Despite the idea and ideals that I hoped my kids would have...it is better to give blah blah blah..they are in fact..kids! They feel the pressure too..the pressure to have what others have..the pressure to need what they think they should have. It's tough out there for them. Yes, we all went through similiar things when we were younger and every generation previously as well but it really is different for them. Our parents said the same thing about us, I know..but really...our kids have so much more to contend with....crazy drugs, weapons, the idea of being unsafe at school and outside of school. There really is a vast difference these days and quite honestly I just don't know how they approach each day...Because of this..I worry..I worry A LOT!!! Way beyond the normal mother worry that I think my own mom went through. I feel a constant struggle and a huge rub against the grain..for them and therefore it trickles down to me! This is a huge part of my thinking and wanting for them to have what they want! Enter Christmas.. I truly wish and hope that the enormous pressures of gift giving for one day out of 365 would subside a bit. It isn't about what we should instill in our kids to make them realize the meaning of such holidays because we are only one very small precent of their daily influences. What they see and know and learn from their peers etc. play a very big part in their underlying need to fit in and be the same as everyone else. As adults we spend much of our time attempting to be individuals..different..with substance but our kids wnat the exact opposite! They don't want to be different, individuals or stand out in any way whatsoever!! That is what fuels their lack of destinction...being the exact same is what they require...funny how perspectives change when we mature.. So, my hopes for this holiday and every day in between is that I can, will and hope to provide a sense of giving and getting for my family. While I desperately want to subscribe to the ideals of giving as opposed to receiving etc...truth be told is that I want to be the one giving and have my kids be the ones getting..including what they need and what they want! Isn't that what all of us parents want? Cause I sure know that is what my kids want... To everyone suffering through this season...remember this...do what you have to in order to appear as if this year is no different than last...yes..you may have much difficulty and no you shouldn't have to choose between gorceries and that xbox game..but the reality is that most of us will have to this year. Yes..still dream of the day when our kids will realize that the spirit of Christmas is what is important but until then..do whatever needs to be done to give to them..and that includes a sense that all is the 'same' as it ever was..and that our small lives will continue on in the very same way as it has in years past. I really feel strongly that our kids can feel that sense of worry and hopelessness from us..and it isn't their worry or concern that the market tanked or unemployment is at an all time high...the best thing we can give them this year especially is the appearance that we all are continuing on without regret, worry or dire straits! Peace to all..and to those who sit in this same and very large boat!