Ginger's House

Monday, June 4, 2012

Sunday, June 3, 2012

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It was pointed out to me last week that my blog posts have not been funny lately and I had to admit to being too sleepy for funny adventures. I said that maybe summer vacation would bring back the funny, but now I have to admit that I'm not so sure that's going to happen. At least not any time soon.

There's been a big change in my life. I've known for quite some time that it was coming and as of this morning it's official.

Ladies and Gentlemen, Orange Croc Guy has left the building.

Actually, he's left Florida all together.

After his mother passed away last summer, he started going to New Jersey once every couple of months or so to take care of things that needed to be done. Being around family again started making him feel homesick so when his cousin offered up a business opportunity he couldn't turn it down. For right now, he's gone for at least three months, but who knows what will happen after that.

He's rented his place out to a friend for the summer and asked me to join him in NJ once I finish school, but I had to say no because it's New Jersey. What the heck am I supposed to do in New Jersey? And what if he decides to stay? I'm not entirely sure they even let people with southern accents into New Jersey.

This morning before he left we had one of our usual conversations where in true Ginger fashion I refused to say what I really felt...

OCG: Are you going to miss me?

ME: No.

OCG: You'll miss me.

ME: No I won't.

OCG: What are you going to do while I'm gone.

ME: I'm going to eat ice cream for breakfast everyday, order fajitas for dinner every night just so I can see the cute fajita delivery guy and I'm going to google stalk Russell Brand.

OCG: Sounds like fun, but you'll still miss me.

ME: No I won't.

OCG: You'll miss me and when you do I want you to call me.

ME: I won't be calling cause I won't miss you.

OCG: You'll miss me.

ME: No I won't.

OCG: I'm not going to call you if you don't call me, so you better miss me and you better call me when you do.

ME: I guess we won't be talking cause I won't miss you.

I won't bore you with the rest of the conversation cause it just went back and forth with him saying, "Yes you will." and me saying, "No, I won't." over and over again.

I have always told Orange Croc Guy that he is not allowed to read this blog. He has always claimed that he doesn't want to read this blog. However, I know that he has and I am betting ~hoping~ that he will again. So, once again, in true Ginger fashion, here I am saying way too much, way too late and to all the wrong people because maybe, just maybe, he'll read this and maybe he'll call...maybe...

OCG,

You asked what I would miss the most about you and I let you know that I would be far too busy to miss you, but what I should have told you is that I will miss your hands. Or, more specifically, your right hand.

The one that reaches for mine with silent confidence and holds on with a gentle strength that lets me know I am safe.

The one with fingers that fit perfectly into the spaces between my own.

The one whose warmth I feel as it rests on my lap or across my shoulder.

The one you place on the small of my back as I enter a room beside you.

The one you cover your face with as you shake your head and laugh at my ridiculousness.

The one I reach for when I am frightened.

The one you don't use when we arm wrestle because you know I'm left handed.

The one that you wave impatiently as you try to explain something to me for the second or, sometimes, the third time.

The one you rub against your chin when you're thinking.

The one with the scar that's been there since you were a child.

The one that holds the TV remote just out of my reach.

The one that has reached out to dry more than one of my tears.

Your right hand. I miss your right hand the most.

Saturday, June 2, 2012

June stuff at STS

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**Come back tomorrow for the girl version of this wordart***

Check out the new designer collab at Stuff to Scrap called My Guy

If you buy the kit during the first week of June you'll get the quickpages for free...

You should also check out the commercial use grab bag! It's full of patriotic-themed goodies and includes extracted elements, layered element and paper templates, textures/overlays, and style sets.

Of course, you'll also want to check out the June Build a Kit section of the store...

Make sure you get the code off the flyer to save 50% when you buy three or more of the June Build a Kits!

Friday, June 1, 2012

The Story of Me part 42

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June 10, 2000

Sixth grade had finally ended for Leo and Harmony. It had been a rough year, but they had gotten through it together. Leo still thought the world of the Harrisons, but Harmony was getting older and they had begun to worry about the amount of time the two spent together. Leo tried to assure them that he would never do anything to hurt Harmony and Harmony would become angry with them when they suggested the two take a break from each other. In the end, the Harrisons had to back off because life with Harmony was unbearable when Leo wasn’t allowed to come over.

Life at the group home had also become increasingly difficult for Leo. He had not told Harmony about the problems he was having, because he didn’t like to see her unhappy but it would have been nice to have someone to talk to.

The other boys at the group home were getting increasingly rough and harder to keep at bay. They teased Leo constantly and on a few occasions had gotten physical. Leo still spent as much time as he could with Harmony and the Harrisons to stay out of the house, but that seemed to envolk a certain amount of jealously and animosity toward him.

The boys would go through Leo’s few belongings when he was out of the house and help themselves to anything they wanted. They would make rude and disrespectful remarks about their attraction to Harmony and the things they could teach her and what they would do to her if they had the chance.

Leo didn’t care about the boys picking on him or going through his things. He had proven time and time again that he could and would fight to defend himself if the need arose. He still kept a box of belongings at the Harrison’s house so there was nothing in the group home that mattered to him. He didn’t care if the boys took everything they found there. They were welcome to it.

The only thing Leo would not put up with was anyone disrespecting Harmony. No one knew better than him that she was a beautiful girl and so he worried that one day the older boys would make good on their threats to get her alone. He had gotten into more than one fight because of something he heard one of the boys saying about Harmony. He had easily won each of those fights, but it didn’t deter new boys who joined the home from testing him.

Norman had been placed in Leo’s group home a month ago. He was fifteen, three years older than Leo, and had experienced several run ins with the police since his arrival. He had targeted Leo from the moment he saw him walking hand in hand with Harmony. Leo had never mentioned the boy or the rude things he said about Harmony.

Leo was sitting in the common room waiting for the weekly group meeting to be over so that he could go spend the day with Harmony when Norman hit him on the back of the head. “Stop, man!” Leo said.

“You going to spend the day with that pretty little piece of yours?” Norman taunted.

“Shut up” Leo said as he tried to remain calm.

“What’s that girl doing wasting her time with you? She needs a real man. Girl like that, I could teach her some things.”

Leo ground his teeth and pinched his lips together in an attempt to remain calm. His hands automatically balled into fists and he began rocking back and forth in his seat.

Norman leaned in close to Leo’s ear and almost whispered, “I’ll take that girl and ruin her for other men. I’ll make sure that I’m her first and her last if you know what I mean.”

Leo couldn’t control himself any longer. He knew Norman had age, experience and weight on his side, but he wasn’t going to let anyone say those things about Harmony. Leo jumped up, knocking his chair over backwards as he flew into the air toward Norman. The other boys scattered and shouted in excitement as they watched the fight begin.

Leo had knocked Norman to the ground and was punching him in the face with all the force he had when he felt something crash into the back of his head. Somehow, Norman had managed to get hold of a lamp that had been knocked to the floor as a result of the fight and he used it to hit Leo. Leo was knocked off of Norman and he heard the other boys laughing as Norman stood and kicked him in the ribs.

Leo felt the pain as he rolled away in time to avoid a second kick. He managed to grab Norman’s leg, causing him to fall to the ground again. Leo pulled himself up and brought Norman with him. The two struggled as the other boys continued to yell and circle them making it hard for the counselors to get in and break up the fight.

Leo and Norman were locked arm in arm in a struggle with neither boy able to get an advantage. Leo felt someone push him from behind and lost his balance causing him to stumble forward. Norman took advantage of this and stepped to the side as he pushed Leo adding to his forward fall. Leo was unable to to recover his balance and fell into a mirror breaking it with the side of his head. He was stunned for a moment. Norman was breathing heavy and the boys who were watching cheered even louder.

Leo regained his composure and turned to face Norman. There was blood on the side of Leo’s face and head. He held his shoulders back and his body was tense. Norman watched him with a sneer on his face. Suddenly, the boys who had been cheering the fight on grew quiet and Leo returned Norman’s sneer.

Leo was standing still one moment and the next he was moving toward Norman with lightening speed. It wasn’t until Norman was on the floor with Leo on top of him that he saw the jagged glass from the broken mirror in Leo’s hand. Norman heard the screams before he felt the cutting pain on his arms, chest, neck and face. It wasn’t until right before he passed out that Norman realized he was the one screaming.

Thursday, May 31, 2012

Sometimes, even Spiderman gets scared

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Last week Sebastian was sitting in his wheelchair when he realized that he was close enough to me to reach out with his toes and tap my leg. I asked what he was doing and he said that it wasn't him, it was a bad shark biting me.

I realized that the "bad shark" was the surgery leg and had mixed emotions. I was actually kind of happy that he was using it to "bite" me because it was nice to see that he wasn't babying it, but I didn't and still don't like the thought of him thinking of it as "bad".

I asked why it had to be a bad shark and he told me not to worry cause a "good" shark was going to save me. Then he used his other foot to move the "bad" shark out of the way.

I should have had some wise and wonderful thing to say to him. Something that he would always remember. Something that would have instantly made him smile.

Instead, I just sat there in sadness for a moment and wondered if he realized the symbolism between the sharks and his feet. When I finally spoke I simply said, "I don't think that's a bad shark at all. I think it's the most perfectly straight foot I've ever seen."

His response---"No, it's a shark."

Lately, Sebastian has been getting fidgety in his wheelchair. He wants out of it and there have been times when I've been afraid that he'll fidget his way right out of the chair and onto the floor. Do you have any idea how it feels to be proud and frightened all at the same time?

We've been getting ready for our Kindergarten promotion ceremony that takes place on Monday morning and Sebastian sadly told me that he didn't think he could go on the stage. I assured him that I would make sure he got onto the stage.

This morning we went over to the big cafeteria to practice and when it was time for my class to take the stage I carried him up the stairs while the other teachers lifted the wheelchair onto the stage for me. I placed him back into the wheelchair and he sang with the rest of the class. Then I carried him off the stage while the wheelchair was lowered to the floor. He was proud and I was happy and everyone clapped louder for my class than they did for the other classes.

After we finished with practice, Sebastian's mom checked him out for a doctor's apointment. He now has a brace on his leg. The brace that will make it possible for him to walk while his leg continues to heal and grow stronger. The brace that he has been excitedly waiting to get.

I heard from his mom who said that he has the brace, but won't walk because he is afraid. He is afraid it will hurt.

Again, I wanted something wise and wonderful to say and again the right words failed me.

Hours have gone by and I don't know if he's walked yet or not. I don't know if he'll walk into class tomorrow or if he'll ride in on his wheelchair. All I know is that whether it's true or not, I want to tell him that sometimes even Spiderman gets scared. He gets scared and it's ok. It's ok if you get scared too.

Take the first step!

There may be pain ~ there will probably be pain. You may even fall a time or two, but you've felt pain and fallen before. You know how to pick yourself up.

You know that there are races to run, dances to dance and bridges to cross. You have done all of these things before and you will do them again, but you have to take that first step.

Take the first step!

Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Wild Child mini kit by Nibbles Skribbles

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Manda of Nibbles Skribbles has got another cute mini kit and template set that was inspired by one of the skribblers. Mercedes, her daughter and their love of bright colors and the zoo were the inspiration behind this kit...