For those of you anxiously awaiting the news regarding what I had for lunch yesterday, I am here to put those questions to rest. I had a salad. It was like a chef salad, actually, with stuff like chick peas and carrots and little bit of ham on top. Very tasty. I may have the same thing again today. Yeah, I'm all about variety here. Ha!

Speaking of lunch, the word takes me back... way back... to the time I was working on Sister Hazel's big album, "Somewhere More Familiar." You know, the one with that song "All For You" on it. Ah, good times, good times. Anyway, while out with them on a press day... or maybe it was when I was out in LA with them for a week, we decided that we wanted to see if we could make an everyday sort of word into a catch-phrase word that everybody was saying. So we (I forget whose idea it was all these years later -- I want to say the guitarist Ryan picked the word, but I could be wrong) came up with the idea to use the word "lunch" to mean something really cool, awesome, or good in general. So saying, "You are so lunch" was a big compliment. We used it heavily for a while, but it never did catch on beyond our small group. I wonder if they'd even remember if I threw that out there in conversation these days, since I am working with them again. Might have to try next time I see them...

Somewhere in my collection, I have a photo of some of the guys in Sister Hazel with Alex and Eddie Van Halen. They were... gosh, I don't even remember where we were that they were too. We were doing some TV thing, I think, although I don't remember what. I do remember a talent producer walking us over to their trailer and introducing the Sister Hazel guys to them. I have photos of all of them together (somewhere... although I haven't seen them lately, come to think of it). And there was a mirror behind them, so you can see me in the photo, too, with the camera up to my eye. So I indirectly have a photo of myself with the Van Halen boys.

And this little walk down memory lane is brought to you compliments of the word "lunch." Because you, you wonderful reader you, are indeed SO lunch!

I have the best intentions with my blog. I compose blog posts in my head all of the time. Then I just don't post them. I'm not sure why that is. Am I feeling like I don't want to share? Am I lazy? Busy? I dunno. I don't think intentions count for much, really. I think maybe my January funk is just leaving me with this "not really caring" attitude. Unfortunately, the blog falls into the stuff I'm not really caring about lately.

Well, let me rephrase that. I care about it. I just don't seem to care if I post to it or not, if that difference makes any sense at all. Well, that and the fact that my life has been less-than-interesting lately. I just feel stupid telling people what I am having for lunch, which, so far, seems to be the highlight of my day.

Well, that and hearing some tracks from the forthcoming album from one of long-time clients, about which I am not allowed to talk or share them. They are really, REALLY good and I have been totally loving every email I get with a new song attached because who doesn't love new great music, right? So that's probably more exciting than my lunch.

Which, in case you are wondering, is going to be:

salad
a bowl of cereal
an apple with peanut butter on it

You see the level of excitement we're talking about here? I'm hungry, so I need to decide. But all of them sound yummy right now. So I keep putting it off because I can't decide and it's already 2 p.m. So I really should eat lunch already.

Oh, the dilemmas I face.

Yes, we had a blast at the show last night. Nothing like a good rock show to get you really pumped up about life in general and clearing away the blue funk specifically -- you know, the one that has been plaguing me for much of January.

Yes, I did play rock photographer. And I took 265 photos. Only 19 of which I deem worthy of sharing, and even of those, I am shamed by the amount of graininess I let happen with the digital zoom (have to stop using that). However, as I said to Tommy when I sent him a link to the photos, it's all about capturing the moments, and I think these photos do so quite well, if I do say so myself:

I hope to be a force to be reckoned with when I actually get a digi SLR camera and can shoot this kind of stuff properly.

Or something like that.

You know, I haven't felt much like blogging lately. Obviously, since I haven't posted here in a bit. I seem to be going through my typical January funk, so rather than complain and moan and just be a downer, I've kept to myself and complained and moaned in my own head. The really stupid thing is I don't have anything to moan and complain about, really. Things are okay right now in my world.

My efforts to spend more time off of my computer have allowed me the luxury of really delving into some of the awesome books I got for Christmas - here is a mere sampling as my mom went a bit craft-book nuts on me (thanks Mom!): Journal Revolution, Paper Transformed, and the visual gloriousness that is In This House. And I finally got my very own copies of Cathy Z's books: Clean & Simple Scrapbooking and Clean & Simple Scrapbooking: The Sequel.

The latter two have been especially fun reads since Cathy is a pal of mine (and I was soundly berated for paying for them when she said she could have sent me copies, but I didn't buy them -- they were gifts!). So I've been swimming in inspiration lately. Basking in it. Hoping it will rub off on me sometime soon.

I've also been on the organizational streak I mentioned previously and my office is extremely tidy and everything has a place. The back of the garage is ship shape. Everything I brought back from my grandparents' house has a new home here (either on display or in storage, depending on what it is). I like feeling as though my surroundings are tidy. Easier said than keeping it that way, however. Still, the areas I wanted to focus on this month in the house are looking really good, which makes me happy.

Besides that, there is not much of anything new. Two Styx shows -- tonight and tomorrow night. The Mettlers will be rocking. It will also be nice to see our pal Tommy Shaw again. I may go all rock photographer. I love taking photos at rock shows and pretending I know what I'm doing and really trying to frame shots well and anticipate what might happen on stage. Of course, I usually find myself frustrated by trying to take photos from too far away and not having my camera on the right settings. I do a lot of trial and error shooting at shows, and often get blur due to the lighting and not having a tripod with me. But it's still fun and I'll probably take pictures. If I get any good ones, I'll post them here.

You know, most of the time when I post anymore, I select the "other slices of life" category or "music musings." Rarely do I select scrap stuff... Hmmmm... I'm not sure what that means. Except maybe that this blog is shifting toward becoming less of a promotional place for my designing and more toward just being "my place" online. It's all good, whatever it means.

There isn't a whole lot new in Mettler land. Mike got back from Vegas and the Consumer Electronics Show last Thursday night, so I've been happy to have him home after he was away for six days. While he was gone, I secretly made a 2008 calendar for his office desk. I'd made him one last year for his desk and ran out of time to make him another one before Christmas, so he got it belatedly. He was thrilled. I love the way it turned out. In typical Krista fashion, I failed to take a photo of it before he took it into the office. Suffice it to say, it turned out really cool. I digitally designed 4x4 squares with the dates on them and a photo of us (which, of course, I quirked up by merging backgrounds with the photos in a very funky way), which I then mounted onto an 8x8 piece of patterned cardstock (the Old World Stack from Die Cuts With A View -- probably my favorite collection of scrapping paper ANYWHERE!). I used the chipboard frame I built for last year's calendar over again, and punched two holes in top of each page, put eyelets on the holes so they'd be sturdy, and fed the holes into jump rings so that you could flip the pages easily. It turned out really well and he has a year of pictures of the two of us together on his desk!

In very exciting healthy living news, I have officially dropped another size and can fit into three pairs of jeans I had stashed in the guest room closet (for when I could fit into them again!). This means I now have three "new" old pairs of jeans that I can put into rotation. This is very exciting, particularly coming on the heels of the holiday indulgences in which I partook. I still have a lot further to go, but I feel really good for making some progress during a time of year that is typically a weight-gaining and not a weight-losing time. I've also gotten less apt to deny myself a small treat on occasion because I think, even though it will take a little longer to lose the weight, that I do better when I don't feel like I can't have something. Instead I want to be able to not have something because I don't want it at that time or don't feel like eating it... if that makes any sense in the least.

And finally, I want to share with you a very whimsical thing my now on-again CT member Muka did recently. I just love the way she does things in such a vibrant, quirky way!

(full credits here)

I think it's a nice reminder that we all need to laugh more! It's good for you!

A friend of mine who doesn't blog sent this to me via email, and I had to do it on the ol' blog because it's just too much fun! And I put forth that any readers who want to try their hand at it, please do so (I'm officially tagging you now!) and post a link back to it in the comments so I can see it!

The rules:

1. Put your iTunes, Windows Media Player, etc. on shuffle.

2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer.

3. YOU MUST WRITE THAT SONG NAME DOWN NO MATTER HOW SILLY IT SOUNDS.

IF SOMEONE SAYS "IS THIS OKAY?" YOU SAY?
Shark Attack (Split Enz)

Hmmm, awfully violent of me. I won't have many people asking my opinion if I do that.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOURSELF?
Lullaby (Gigolo Aunts)

Does that mean I see myself as soft and quiet? Not quite accurate, that.

WHAT DO YOU LIKE IN A GUY?
Ruff Stuff (Gomez)

That sounds awfully kinky of me...

HOW DO YOU FEEL TODAY?
Locked Out (Crowded House)

In some ways, this is quite true... given the way some things have been going lately...

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE'S PURPOSE?
We're Hardcore (Gordon Downie)

Well, I'll take this as the song is meant -- that I'm not a dabbler or a hobbyist -- I go after things full-throttle if I really want them.

WHAT IS YOUR MOTTO?
You Will Rise Again (Spottiswoode & His Enemies)

Nice, looks like I can't be beaten down, eh? Always get back up, dust myself off, and go for it once more.

WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS THINK OF YOU?
Throw Your Arms Around Me (Crowded House, covering Hunters & Collectors)

Very loving and jolly. I'll take it. They must really like me.

WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU?
Now I Know (The Thorns)

Or in this case, don't know, since the title isn't very illuminating, now, is it?

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT OFTEN?
Love You Till The Day I Die (Crowded House)

True of those I love, most especially my husband.

WHAT IS 2 + 2?
Crying Like A Church On Monday (New Radicals)

Uh, I knew I bad at math, but this makes no sense.

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR BEST FRIEND?
The Most Beautiful Girl In The Room (Flight of the Conchords)

Kind of sweet, no? My friends are truly beautiful people, all of them. Of course, I can't exactly apply this to my hubby, my true best friend, who is not a girl.

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE PERSON YOU LIKE/LOVE?
I Feel You (DePeche Mode)

Excellent!!! True on so many levels.

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE STORY?
I Wanted To Tell You (Matthew Sweet)

Ha ha, this cracks me up, since I'm BLOGGING this and telling you all about my life on here.

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?
U.F.O. (Holly McNarland)

Not sure quite what that means. Zipping around through space in an unidentified manner...

WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU SEE THE PERSON YOU LIKE/LOVE?
Better Be Home Soon (Crowded House)

Awwww... I do very much like the part of the day when Mike gets home, after all! And it can never come quickly enough for me.

WHAT WILL YOU DANCE TO AT YOUR WEDDING?
You (Candlebox)

Interesting. Although I did already get married (duh!) and we danced to "Have A Little Faith In Me" by John Hiatt. Don't think that song has made it on my iTunes yet though.

WHAT WILL THEY PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL?
Don't Dream It's Over (Crowded House)

Ok, that's kind of funny...

WHAT IS YOUR HOBBY/INTEREST?
4th of July (U2)

I'm all for a good parade (with lots of bagpipes), a cookout, some fireworks, and red, white & blue!

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST FEAR?
Rexall (Dave Navarro)

No idea what that means.

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST SECRET?
Homespun (Grant Lee Buffalo)

Don't tell anyone, it's a secret...

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR FRIENDS?
Marching Mystery (Dougie Maclean)

Hmmmm, I must have very mysterious friends... who march!

Yeah, yeah, I know... I talk about Neil Finn way too much. If you are a long-time blog reader, you'll probably remember the private Crowded House show I went to back in July, right? Or maybe not. Which is why I'm kind enough to link to the post about it for reference. The TV show they were taping that night is FINALLY airing this month. I don't know the exact date yet. But it's airing as part of The Artist's Den series on a channel called Ovation TV. And I'm crushed because I don't get this channel. So I'm looking for someone, anyone out there who has DirecTV who would be willing to tape it for me when it airs. I'll pay for the cost of tape and shipping, of course. Anyone reading this get DirecTV? Bueller, anyone?

In the meantime, I've been way too giddy for the past ten minutes watching the clip they have online from the show. You can see the back of my head a few times!!! Short of freeze-framing, I can't show you where I am because the glimpses are split-second, but I am there, bright red shirt and all. Without further ado, here is what has me so turbo-charged right now -- I am beyond excited to finally see the footage from this show!

Over at Altered Art Chicks, we thought it would be fun to ring in the new year with some cool news and some hot new products, so read on (and check out the SALE PRICING!).

Altered Art Chicks is proud to announce the arrival of an amazingly talented artist to the Emporium... Michelle Thompson (a.k.a. eMpTy Designs) of Scrapability/Scrap Rants fame has joined us as a quick page creator! She's taking our digi designs and making some amazing altered-to-the-max digi quick pages!

We're offering two sets at the launch and they are both too terrific for words. They're on sale for $5.95 per set for one week only ($2 off the regular price)!

Check out the freestyle, quirky coolness that Michelle has created:

Just think of how easy these could make your altered life. Pair one of the sets with a Mootsie chipboard book from the emporium, pop in some photos and journaling, print out the pages, stick them in the book, and you've got a quick and easy gift or keepsake!

Sale price is good for a week, so stop over and grab them both NOW!

Yeah, I know, I disappeared for the duration of the holidays. Basically, we went to visit my in-laws and my parents and I barely turned my computer on because I was on vacation. This was remarkably wonderful for my mental health and overall well-being to just disconnect and do wild and crazy stuff like read some books, do some Sudoku puzzles, and watch TV and not be a slave to my computer like I usually am. So, in the interest of playing catch-up, I'm going to pull out my trusty go-to thang and do a numbered list:

1) Mike's suitcase had a mind of its own: when we flew to visit my in-laws, Mike's suitcase, which held ALL of his clothes for the trip, went to Mexico City. We did not go anywhere NEAR Mexico City. Almost 70 hours later, he had his bag back. But it made for an interesting trip and some clothes-borrowing in the interim.

2) The holidays overall were very emotional for me this year. The last time I saw my Grandma was on New Year's Eve 2006, so on New Year's Eve 2007, I was a bit melancholic. Add to that the fact that my mom and I spent a few hours at my grandparents' house that day going through a bunch of stuff, and, well, I was a bit of a wreck. I found some more things I wanted to bring back with me, but that doesn't bring my grandparents back at all. It's nice to have some more of their things to have around my house and remind me of them all the time (not that I need reminding, but it does bring me comfort). The most fun find and the thing I most wanted to find? Letters my grandparents had written to each other years ago. I can't wait to go through them at my leisure after my mom peruses them.

3) It's been hard re-engaging my brain and getting back to work. I was regretting my lack of computer time yesterday when I had SO many emails waiting for me, but I got through those and am plowing through work like I had no time off at all. It was hard to turn on my computer yesterday morning, though!

4) I've been bitten by the organization bug, as always seems to happen this time of year, and I am eager to organize my house. Actually, reorganize would be more accurate, because I keep my stuff pretty organized much of the time. This will be more of a rearranging and purging thing, and finding spots for the stuff we brought back with us from my grandparents' house. I would dearly love to organize the front of the garage while I'm in this mode, but it's WAY too cold out to consider it. Will have to wait till spring to do that.

5) Scores at my grandparents' house: One of the coolest things I found? A 1950 Hopalong Cassidy thermos, in REALLY good condition. That is getting displayed in my living room! I love vintage stuff like that! So awesome. I could probably get a decent amount of money for it on eBay, but I'm keeping it. I also came back with my grandma's measuring cups and spoons, rolling pin, sugar bowl, napkin holder, a record cabinet that was always in their living room, a ton of old photos, the quilt that was on their bed for years, a huge afghan my grandma made, two lamps, two sconces, my grandpa's money clip and cuff links, things my mom and aunts had made when they were younger, old report cards, some Christmas decorations, and a few other odds and ends.

6) I have taken custody of ALL of the family photos and paper-related family history items (y'know, stuff like my great grandmother's elementary school graduation program, etc.) from the house and plan, over the next year, to scan them all in and make copies for my aunts, mom, brother and cousins so everyone has a copy of them. It's going to be a big project, but I figure if I do a chunk each week, it won't overwhelm me too much. It's the genealogist in me that wants to preserve this stuff, so I am excited to sit down and go through it all and put it into order.

7) New Year's was celebrated in grand style at my parents' house: we played Scrabble, watched the movie "Dick" (a tradition started a few years ago -- it's HYSTERICAL!), and we watched the Pink Panther movie with Steve Martin in it too (Pink Panther movies are a long-time family favorite). So we did a lot of laughing that evening, turned the TV over to watch the ball drop at midnight, then turned the DVD player back on to finish watching Pink Panther. Good times.

I think that's about it for now. I always seem to get really moody and introspective in January, and I'm sure this year will be no different. I get into this post-holiday blues mode, and sit here wishing I lived closer to my family... I'm just warning you that it's sure to show up any day now, so if I get cranky, that's why.

Happy New Year and tell me how your holidays were!!!