FanGirl Friday: Online Cross-Stitch

One of the things I do to relax is an online cross-stitch game on Facebook called Cross-Stitch World. I've been doing them for a while. They can take several days to complete, even though the clock on the game is just for time actually played. Even before this quarantine, I was doing these. In January, when my work life kinda exploded, I used some of my game cash to create a cross-stitch of a photo of Brian.

It took me about four hours of game time to complete. I've done several more, having to actually do other patterns within the game to earn enough game cash to do one from a photo. (It costs about $750 game cash to do one.) These elaborate Brian ones seem to be the most relaxing because they take me the longest to do.

Here are some of the other ones I've done:

Currently Reading

It's been a while since I updated my list up there in the header, so don't mind it right now. But I thought I'd give you a list of what I'm currently reading.

I listened to this one years ago driving to and from work. So it's kinda nice to actually read it. Though it is over 400 pages. I found it at the library book sale in town and went ahead and bought it.

This one was recommended at a conference I went to back in October. I'm actually really enjoying reading how the church and the LGBTQ+ community can come to terms with each other.

I'm listening to this one in my car. I have been listening to this series on my drive to and from work. I had just picked it up the weekend before they closed the schools. So now I'm not very far into it. It's kinda driving me nuts that I don't get to listen to it much, but at the same time, I know my due date has been extended and any fines will be forgiven.

Camp NaNo: Update!

Title: Finding Control
Words Added: 3,666
Word Goal: 15,000, which is 500 words per day.

Since I am writing this before today's writing session, I am on track. This feels good. I wasn't sure if the word goal was going to be a good one or not, but it seems to be helping move the story along. I did manage to finish chapter 18 and get it posted. I'm now working in chapter 19.

I think the greatest thing that has come out of this week is I think I know where this story is headed. I think this is Baylee's coming out story. Not that I believe in coming out because, well, there's really no reason to. But it seems important to Baylee. So that's what I'm going with.

Surprisingly, I'm not having a difficult time writing this right now. I thought I would, but it seems to be coming fairly easily right now. I know that may change. I'm already starting to feel a slump coming on, which kinda sucks. I'm hoping I can push through this.

Wanna read the latest chapter? Click here.

BuJo Update: Back at It

I've been using a Bullet Journal (BuJo) for a while. I quit using one after the fire for a bit and then have attempted to use one for a while now. I was doing well back in the fall. But then work got crazy in January and I kinda quit using one.

Now that I'm in quarantine, I'm using one again. It's kinda become my all-purpose thing right now. Being I don't do a whole lot right now except work from home and manage the kids' school schedule, I've gone to weeklies. It seems to make life a little easier to just list what I'm doing daily in a smaller box.

I've also attempted a habit tracker again. I'm trying to do stuff every day (or nearly every day) so why not track it! Oh, note on the "Do Something." Brian Littrell (yes, the Backstreet Boy) set a challenge on April first to "Do Something" physical every day. Yeah, obviously his routines are more vigorous than mine because well, I'm a freaking lightweight. But I am trying to do something active every day. I have found I spend way more time in front of my computer now. (Problems that come with working remotely.) So I'm trying to get outside, when the weather is good, and do something, even if it's playing with the kids. So far, so good. Only missed Saturday, but even then, I did go walk around the grocery store and since I don't know that store, it took me a while. Otherwise, I think the other ones are pretty self-explanatory.

The other thing I've been doing in my BuJo, as you saw in my habit tracker, is journaling. Yes, historians are saying, "Write it down! This is history, people!" I decided after week one that I just needed to start writing things down. Things that frustrated me, things that were going well, whatever. It's truly just me getting my thoughts out on the page.

Probably the biggest reason I've gone back to bullet journaling is that it helps me actually do stuff during the day. Otherwise, I think I would end up just binging Netflix and not doing anything at all. So all in all, it's a good thing really.

Quarantined: Live with the Littrells

Friday, Brian and Leighanne blessed us fans with a video on Brian's accounts. They called it "Cooking with the Littrells." OMG! It was the best thing in the world! They were making a scramble. Yes, I call it a scramble because it wasn't just scrambled eggs. And I learned something new, Brian doesn't like onions! And Leighanne loves potatoes and Baylee loved the movie Cars when he was little!

And they were just so adorable! Bay was recording and he was so picking on Dad the whole time!!! I could watch them all day! So you wanna watch it, go to Brian's Facebook page. Gosh, they are just too cute together!

Saturday, Baylee and his fam went LIVE on like, everywhere, YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram. Of course, they seem to run on Brian's watch (i.e. Backstreet Time) so they started late. It was absolutely amazing! They got up to about 600+ on the Facebook Live (where I was watching). The only problem with that is that if they got over 500, I would buffer like crazy! So I totally missed the end! :( But the best thing with it also being on YouTube and Facebook Live is that it was recorded!

Anyway, I really love that he had Alex with him. Fun fact that we learned about Alex, he sang harmony on "Let Her Go." This whole set was like an acoustic dream set! It really kinda took me back to my meet & greet with him. (Read about that here.) And King Willard even popped in!!! It was great!!!! And the fact that they have their own nurse and doc come by their house does not surprise me, even though they are Alex's parents! Very cute that Bay needs glasses and he NEEDS TO WEAR THEM! God, he would probably look so cute! And Dad on percussion is just amazing!

This is his setlist: (*Unreleased Original)

Don't Knock It

Some Guys

Why Did You*

Come Kiss Me

Let Her Go

Nobody Tells Ya

Boxes

Stuck in the Middle*

The fact that Brian and Baylee did "Come Kiss Me" made my whole heart happy! And I found out it's a Gary Baker song! Gosh, he wrote so many of those songs I loved when I was deep into country music. And "Nobody Tells Ya" in this version was just Ah-MAZE-ing! I've already had to watch this hour-long set again (because I missed stuff). I loved that they did it on the patio and it was all professional-ish because I would expect nothing less from them! They did a bunch of questions. between every couple of songs. Though I will say that his writing process can be hilarious at times.

This whole thing just totally made my heart happy. I could watch this family all day. Their videos, their singing, their stories. Gosh, I hope they do more!

Wanna watch Baylee Littrell Homemade? Watch below!

FanGirl Friday: BSB DNA Wolrd Tour: Meeting Baylee Littrell

*Note: This was originally written August 4, 2019.*

This is going to be part of probably about a zillion posts...or maybe not. But first here's a photo from my Baylee Littrell Meet and Greet! Yep! I got to meet Baylee! And his Mama. They are such sweet, caring people!

Yes, I'm old enough to be his mom, but I don't care! He's SUPER sweet!

So this is how it started. A week ago, I was lamenting to my co-worker while we were in the computer lab working. And he literally gave me the "You Only Live Once" speech and the "when is this opportunity ever gonna come around again" and the "this might be their last tour" thing. So I did a thing and bought Baylee Meet & Greet passes! I'm so glad I did!

It was SUPER intimate! It was me and three other people! So we were SUPPOSED to be there at 4:30. Yep, me and about 50 other people who were doing the Meet & Greet for the Boys. At 4:30, they start prepping the metal detectors. Thankfully the other three people who were there for Baylee figured out that we got to cut the line and go in first! So we were led upstairs and down a hallway to wait outside his dressing room. Gosh, I now know how my kids feel waiting for the bus! LOL! I did manage to sneak glances of James (Howie's oldest son) and Nick! And then Mama came down the hall and the nerves started hitting. I honestly don't know how I wasn't shaking like a leaf the whole time!

So we FINALLY get let in and it is like literally, here chill in his "living room" on tour! LOL Or as he called it, Baylee's lounge! He totally snuck up on us too! And then, of course, Mama had to fix his hair! Oh, the look was so cute like "Mom, why are you doing this in front of my fans?" Then he sat down with his bass player, Phil, and sang "If You Don't, I Will" off his forthcoming album that is supposed to be out "this fall." (I have now heard 7 of the ??? number of songs on it and it's gonna be amazing!)

We then kinda kicked back and we could ask him anything. (Okay not anything, Mama was there.) One member of our group had come all the way from Tokyo! So, of course, she asked if he would come to Japan in October. That's when we found out he'll be starting his senior year in the fall. I asked him about who he would wanna meet. Elvis (dead), Michael Buble (alive). And I kinda blabbed about the fire. His Mama said I was a blessing. (Yeah, being homeless when tickets go on sale, and making sure your kids are taken care of first...it's a no brainer.) Well, I guess that's better than blabbing about how I inadvertently named my dog after him! LOL

He's so super sweet! We did photos. I went last. I literally put my head on his shoulder. I'm gonna scout the whole tour to see if I win shortest Baylee fan that's NOT a kid! Got his autograph postcard, which he ALMOST forgot about...thanks Mama for reminding him! He's such a sweetheart!

Then I had to LEAVE. I didn't wanna! But he gives the BEST side hugs ever! SO I hiked back to the hotel I was staying at to drop my autograph and then pretty much turn back around and get in line for the show! Yes, he ran late. He runs on Backstreet Time like his Daddy or cousin Kev. I will talk about his set in the next post, hopefully!

TV Thursday: What I'm Watching

So with this quarantine, you would think I'd be getting in lots of TV watching! NO! That is not the case. Instead, the TV seems to be monopolized by the kids. I don't mind much. It at least brings noise to the house.

And since most of my shows are usually rather graphic, gory, or just SO not appropriate for kids, I've found it VERY difficult to watch anything around them. There are certain things I just don't want to explain.

So what am I watching? A couple of different shows.

CSI: Las Vegas -- Yes, the original one. I think I'm in season 10 or something, I'm not sure anymore. I know Grissom has left and Langston is there for the time being. So I'm definitely into episodes when I quit watching the show on a weekly basis.

Criminal Minds -- I'm in season 6. I think this when I quit watching regularly. I know JJ has left.

Star Trek: Voyager -- I'm in season 4 of this one.

Feel Good -- I just found this one on Netflix. Definitely one of those ones I cannot watch around the kids. It's MC, Mae, is a lesbian and it's focused around her relationship with Georgia. There are lots of inappropriate language and sexual references. So NOT appropriate for the kids! There's only one season and I think I'm in episode 5.

So yeah, I've got lots to choose from. Now if I could just stay awake long enough after the kids go to bed. Or find some other time to watch these things!