We Love The Voodoo

So, after being awakened at 3:30am by a couple of kids on spring break, then realizing on my way to work that I forgot my wallet and when reaching for my cell phone to call TBFE to see if he could maybe meet me half way if I turn around to get said wallet, I realize I have forgotten my cell phone, it was a nice surprise to find a present on my desk.

One of my co-workers (not the cranky non-decorating one) gave me a wedding voodoo doll. I was touched.



And I’ve already stuck some pins in some appropriate places.
I feel much better.

Yoga, Vertigo & Entertained Police Officers

TBFE summed up our weekend very well, so I can skip over the details. But I will say this, Bikram’s yoga may not be my friend.

The first class CB and I did was great. I felt good. Saturday's class, however, was pure hell. I don’t know if I didn’t hydrate enough or didn’t digest my breakfast enough or what, but I spent most of the 90 minutes laying down. I was nauseous and miserable. I will try one more class (in the EVENING, thankyouverymuch) and if it’s not better, I give up. I will find another type of yoga to do.

That evening, at Doug and Ann’s reception (a fantastic evening, by the way), I felt relatively fine. Even had a couple of cocktails and was steady on my feet. I finally got to wear my new babies and got numerous compliments on them.

And here’s where I could make some raunchy comment like, Oh, the police officers didn’t compliment my shoes because I wasn’t WEARING my shoes, or anything else, when they saw me, but I won’t. Really.

I just hope the light was flattering.......

Anywho, I’m not sure if the events are related (the yoga event, not the other stuff), but I spent yesterday, and a little bit of today, in a dizzy fog. Needless to say, brunch at the Space Needle (a rotating restaurant that's 500 feet off of the ground) was not entirely enjoyable. During the times I was actually standing, I was holding onto or leaning on Todd. I don't think anyone noticed. Shopping and registering later in the day was also quite the challenge. And I think the nausea that hit around 8:30pm last night was due to a swimming head for the past nine hours.

Today, we’re just dealing with a headache. I’ve had my earplugs on most of the day, but I've taken them out as the headache has lightened up a little.

I'm thinking I will be in bed very early this evening. And you can be sure the blinds will be tightly closed.

Maybe.....

Icky Day

Although, this photo makes me chuckle, so there's a perk.

Happy Friday.
Thank gawd.

I Survived The Yoga

And in my Hanky Pankies, no less. Talk about adding to the challenge. Apparently, when I attempted to throw my regular ol’ undies in my backpack Tuesday night, I missed completely. And I was not made aware of my sucky aim until changing into my yoga clothes after work. So, it was either Hanky Pankies or no pankies at all. Which would have just been weird.

Anywho, my buddy, CB, and I survived our first night of Birkram’s yoga.

She never left the room, which impressed me since she was so worried about a heatstroke. She kept up until we were down to 20 minutes left in the class, then she just did one set of the poses and rested for the other set.

I kept up, doing both sets of poses, until about 10 minutes left. Then I started to get a bit claustrophobic and wanted to just get out of there. But then came the cool down, where you just lay on your back and relax, and the instructor turned the overhead fans on, so getting that breeze helped tremendously.

And I remembered how good the challenge felt. Focusing and holding my balance on one leg. Stretching from my toes to my fingertips. Sweating so much that I can literally wring my bra out. And because you face a mirror the whole time, staring at my cleavage which, I must say, looked amazing in my tank top.

Afterwards, the 40 degree Seattle weather felt fantastic. CB hung her out with window like a dog for most of the drive home. At one point I asked her a question and after a minute, she just looked at me said, “What?” I believe the brain was fried. But she gave it a big thumbs up and said she felt really, really good.

We have plans to go back this weekend.
When I have on regular underwear.

This May Be My Last Post For A While

My buddy and I are taking a Bikram’s yoga class tonight, and well, I’m not very confident about surviving it anymore. Oh sure, when I did this stuff eight years ago and I felt great and I was going a few times a week. But time has not been kind to this here body.

In it’s defense, I really haven’t been helping, have I?

My buddy is a little worried as well. She emailed me a minute ago (which is very funny because I can see her in my monitor’s rearview mirror):

“Ok - so I'm getting a little nervous about the heat stroke coming. We'll have to make hand signs so you know if I'm in trouble.”

I told her I think the look on her face will be enough of a sign.

“I know my face gets quite red when I'm overworked so don't go just by that. If I'm holding my chest or pass out - that can be a sign too.”

Good to know.

And now she’s got me freaked out.

So, if you don’t hear from me for a while, it’s because I don’t have the strength to lift my arms or I’m recovering from a heat stroke. TBFE can keep you updated on my progress.

Pray for us.

But What If Chicken Isn’t In Season?!

This wedding stuff is funny business. TBFE and I seem to talk about it constantly. Not in a oh-gawd-we-have-nothing-else-to-talk-about kind of way, but in a we’re-so-excited-we-can’t-wait-nine-more-months kind of way. My mind is constantly thinking about details and the itinerary and the food, ah yum, the food!

So, last night we chatted for a bit about nothing in particular, then drifted off. Well, Todd drifted off. I laid with my head on his shoulder, my arm around his chest, and my eyes closed, and thought about the wedding.

And after about 10 minutes, I sat up and said, “What if we get the RSVP cards done before we’ve finalized the menu with the caterer and we put on there ‘choose chicken or veggie’ and then the caterer can’t do the chicken for some reason, but we already have the RSVP cards printed up?! Or what if we just decide to do a foo foo pasta instead of chicken at all but we already have the RSVP cards printed and they say CHICKEN?!”

Todd snorted awake, then sighed that sigh that I’m becoming very familiar with.

[In thick, sleepy talk]

“Raechelle. Why wouldn’t we have the chicken?”

“What if the chicken isn’t in season or something?!”

[Now realizing this freak out really doesn’t even warrant a response…..]

“Colonel-Sanders-in-Heaven, Rae-rae, the chicken will not be out of season. I could go into great detail about why the chicken will not be out of season, but I don’t think I need to do that, do I? There is no reason why we won’t have the two options… it will be fine to go ahead and print the RSVP cards before we finalize the menu….really….[deep breathe]…..it will be fine. Maybe we should just elope…..it’s not too late to go to Vegas……you like Elvis……”

[snore]

Hmph.
Well, okay fine. We’ll go ahead and print the RSVP cards. But if something happens and there is a sudden chicken crisis, I get to say I told ya so.

Weekend Update

My weekend started with a breakdown. I love that.

I just wasn't able to wake up the entire day, and then I sat in traffic for an hour (which is quite unusual), so when I got home, I just wanted to lay down. Just for a bit. But the Friday night schedule had changed and, while it really didn't affect my personal schedule, I still felt pressure to things I didn't want to do, even though Todd said I really didn't have to do anything and well, that made me cry.

It's funny how I don't think I'm stressed, but then the stupidest things make me snap and cry. Maybe I should just suck it up and admit it.

I am stressed.
There.

I have a lot going on in my little ol' bubble. It may not seem like a lot on a day to day basis, but step back and take a look at the whole picture.

I am stressed.

Luckily, the crying and the snapping was short lived, so I was better by the time we made our french bread pizzas and sat down to watch "W". It was really good. You know how when you watched "Walk the Line" you kind of forgot what Johnny Cash actually looked like because Joaquin did such a great job? Same thing here. Josh Brolin did an amazing George Bush. The movie is a bit too long, but all in all, a thumbs up.

And you have to wonder, does Bush really talk with his mouth full all the time?

Saturday, we headed to Eiffel Printing in Ballard to visit Todd's friend, Brittany (the owner), and talk wedding invitations. One hour later, we had a demo in our hands and order placed. Easy as pie. It really helps when the two people getting married tend to agree on just about everything from graphics to fonts to how sparkly the paper should be.

After that, a quick lunch at Blue C, which, in hindsight, was just dumb when your fiancé is allergic to shellfish. TBFE never actually ate any shellfish, but he had a cucumber roll and apparently there was cross contamination because that evening he got sick. Really sick.

We had plans to see ThorNton Creek play, but instead, we curled up in bed while the kids were at game, and watched The Black Swan, Todd's most favorite pirate movie ever. I left briefly to pick up Trish and Dan from the airport, as they were returning from their lovely Hawaiian vacation. I did not give them a hard time, but I did mention that it snowed here while they were gone. I'm sure they got my point.

Sunday, Todd was feeling better so he went off to coffee and I slept in until 10:00am. And thus, begins the most fantabulous day EVER. I cleaned and cleaned and then we shopped and then we came home and I cleaned some more, then I got a little manic at 6:30pm and decided to rearrange the downstairs/laundry area to tidy up and make room for Elvis' litter box and bowls. The litter box was in the kids' bathroom, but that made an already small room even smaller. So now the kids' have some more space and Elvis' has less privacy. He doesn't seem to mind.

I finally came down around 8:30pm. I poured another glass of wine and took a hot bath and dipped my hands in paraffin wax*, then curled up to watch Family Guy with my family guy and a big bowl of popcorn.

Then at 10:00, the kids got tucked in and Todd and I got tucked in and then [blog material censored by the author] and then out like a light. Whew.

**********

*So, you know how you say "I am never going to be like my mother/father!"

Well, yeah. Good luck with that.

It seems that I may have arthritis in my hands (and probably even my knees). My left thumb joint started aching when I was in West Virginia in January, but I thought I had just hit it or bent it the wrong way like I do because I'm a klutz. So, I didn't really think too much about it. Then, I got a pinch in my neck that ran down my right arm and literally prevented me from using my right hand for two days. I got a massage and thought that would fix the problem, but here we are two months later and both of my thumb joints ache like a bitch most of the time. I'm sure it doesn't help that I type and mouse as much as I do.

Mom has arthritis in her hands (and her spine and her neck and her arms), as do (did) my aunts and my uncle. So, looking at heredity, that's probably what I'm dealing with.

Mom had purchased a paraffin wax dipper years ago for her hands, but upgraded to a commercial grade/size model that would accommodate most of her forearm, so I got the little one. The thing is fantastic. I did two dips last night (you just dip, wait for the wax to cool, then slide it off) and my thumbs feel much better this morning. The only drawback is that this thing takes 2.5 hours to heat up, and even then there is still a ball of wax in the middle. I don't know what to do about that ball of wax. It just won't melt.

Anyway, you have to plan in advance.

So, we're at achy hands, cracking knees, bad eyesight and gray hair. Hard to believe I'm only going to be 34 next month.

*cough*April 14th*cough*

Ahem....

Ballard Condo Update

Oh, this makes me happy.

The brand spankin' new condos that are taking over Ballard are sitting empty. Those condo overlords that thought they could sell one bedroom condos for $400,000 are losing oodles of money every day.

Build, build, BUILD, they said! Who cares if the ones we built a year ago aren't selling, BUILD MORE! Tear down the old houses, build! Tear down the bowling alley, build! Tear down the Denny's.......well, I support them wholeheartedly there. That freakin' place gave me food poisioning.

I'm sorry to see Ballard become somewhat of a ghost town with all of these monster buildings just sitting empty, but I'm happy that greedy corporations aren't profiting from these eyesores that took over a quiet, little neighborhood.

Need More Sleep

Why?

Why must I get up when it's still dark? Why must I crawl out of my warm, fluffy bed, away from my warm, fluffy man to sit in this cube? Why?

It's not fair.
I'm sleepy.

Preach it, kitteh kitteh. Preach it.....

You can't make me shine, dammit.

I'm So Torn.....

I just read about this on KomoNews.

An alcohol delivery service.
Oh, gawd help us.

Luckily, TBFE and I can just walk down to QFC if we need more beer or wine (that doesn't sound good, does it?) But for people who don't live within stumbling distance of a grocery or liquor store, and we don't want those people driving, they can order in.

I can see both pros and cons.
Discuss.

St. Patty’s Day Woohoo!

Despite my lack of decorations for St. Patrick’s Day, I decided I would still make cupcakes for my peeps. Cause that’s how I roll. I used devil’s food batter and put green food coloring in the white, whipped icing. Very festive.

And while I was baking, Todd sat down to cut some shamrocks out of green construction paper, just so I’d have something to put up in my cube.

Well, cutting some shamrocks turned into cutting shamrock garland, which turned into making me Irish flags. Kayleigh joined in and by the time they finished, I had a very large bag of St. Patrick’s Day decorations.

My cube was a hit. Even Mr. Cranky Non-Decorating Co-Worker liked the decorations. And they were extra special because they were handmade.

I love my little creative family.

St. Patty's Day Poo Poo

So, I went to the Dollar Tree yesterday to load up on enough St. Patrick's Day decorations to make my co-workers, and even my boss, throw up. And wouldn't you know it...

The two aisles of green decorations were reduced to one little corner by the door. They had hats. And whistles. And that's it.

Now what am I supposed to do?!

I've got people coming by, asking when the decorations are going up! This isn't just about me and my need to be the center of attention and the department moral gal. I have fans! They want decorations! And this is my holiday. I'm Irish! I think.

And I'm marrying a Scotsman!

Help me!

I could have Todd (artist extraordinaire that he is) draw me a shamrock, then I could use that as a stencil and make a ton of green, construction paper shamrocks. But would that be enough? I could bring in my little iPod speakers and blare the Pogues, The Dropkick Murphys and Flogging Molly all day. Would that get my Irish across?

I'm just at a loss.

I may have to make up for this at Easter. Bunnies EVERYWHERE.

That'll get 'em.

Weekend Update

Our weekend was jam packed with all of the excitement you would expect from me and TBFE. Isn’t that why you read our blogs?

Friday night was movie night. Steve, Stephanie and the most adorable child on the planet, Isabella, came over to enjoy pizza and “Over the Hedge”. Which is freakin’ hilarious, even to the adults.

Then early to bed because it had been a long, long week.

Saturday was a bit discombobulated.
Kayleigh should have marched in the St Patrick’s Day parade at 12:30, but due to a lost clarinet, the plan changed to not even go, which was a-okay because it was 35 degrees out and pouring the rain Saturday morning. And as you know, Rae-rae don’t do crowds. I did, however, buy some kava kava, which my massage therapist recommended to calm me in those anxiety-ridden situations. So I was ready!

But then the rain let up and Grandma Kit called to see if Kayleigh wanted to still go the parade so she could cheer for her girlfriends, so they were off at 11:30am. And Tyler had a meeting for Norwestcon so he was gone for a few hours.

The kids’ plans evolved and changed and changed again around us, but Todd and I held steady. In our sweats. Surrounded by paper. As we cleaned out the four drawer file cabinet. Pro-freakin’-ductive.

Kayleigh had an overnight after the parade, and Tyler was holed up playing some new video games, courtesy of a wonderful friend of Todd’s, so we came to a stopping point in our cleaning and went out for a nice mini-date. Then came home, curled up and watched a couple of movies. Freeway, which Todd had never seen and True Romance , which I had never seen. Both equally violent (well, True Romance was probably more violent) and twisted. And then to bed.

Sunday, Todd skipped his usual Sunday coffee with a friend and instead, took Tyler to see Watchmen. And I piddled around an EMPTY HOUSE all BY MYSELF for three hours (oh my gawd) until it was time to leave to go purchase The Dress.

Yes, the wedding dress had been purchased. It’s very exciting.

Unfortunately, it’s not a purchase off the rack kind of thing, so I won’t actually have the dress until August. Which is probably best. Because I could totally see myself locking myself in the bedroom to put it on and prance around. So yes, best that it’s not in my house.

After dress purchasing, Kim, who had joined me for the final try on, and I grabbed some lunch and just chatted. We haven’t been able to do much of that lately, and that makes me sad. West Seattle really isn’t that far from Ballard, but it’s far enough to make popping in on Kim-n-Tim-Milo very difficult. Maybe the summer will make it easier for all of us to get together and hang out. Barbecues, picnics at Greenlake, picnics at Alki.

Sigh.

Man, I can’t wait until the warm weather gets here.

Did I mention it snowed again this weekend? Yeah. It’s not so much fun anymore.

Where was I?

Oh, bonding with Kim.
After the bonding with Kim, I swung by the house to grab Todd and head to run a couple of errands. Then off to pick up Kayleigh and Tyler, then to Target for some house stuff, then to the grocery store for dinner, then home to cook dinner and clean up after dinner, then finishing up laundry, then picking up the bedroom, then painting my fingernails (hussy red!) then tucking everyone in and then finally, sweet sweet sleep. Ah……

I’m already looking forward this weekend.
How sad is that?

It May Be Time For Therapy

I bought another pair of shoes.



No, I don’t know when I’ll wear them, but every woman needs a pair of black, patent leather dress shoes, right? Just in case?

Seriously

Yes, a vacation would be lovely right about now. It wasn't even 30 degrees when we woke up this morning. We've got sun! But we've got ice, too.

A big, fat *thpppt* to Trish, Dan and Jesse, who are livin' it up in Kauai right now.

I hope it's snowing when you get back.
That'll teach ya.

To Pee or Not To Pee?

I’ve been emailing with Nichole this morning about the poofy dresses. A lot of my Facebook statuses (stati?) have been about the poof. I do love the poof. The poof controls me. These hips were MADE for the poof!

Anywho, I mentioned that I needed to actually control the poof. I’d still like to be able to fit into a restroom stall. She mentioned (very sarcastically) about how going to the potty was in one of these things was just oodles of fun. Which made me think, what if I didn’t HAVE to go to the potty? What if the potty came to me?

Which is when I thought of David Sedaris’ very funny bit about the Stadium Pal.

I wanted to quote this, but when I Googled “stadium pal”, I found that someone has actually created it. And even better, there is a Stadium Gal.

Well, slap me and call me Sissy!

I could strap this baby on and I wouldn’t even have to try and cram myself into a bathroom stall. And no one would be the wiser!

Until about 9pm, after I had peed in this thing all day and the smell finally wafted out from under the gown. Talk about setting a mood for the boudoir that night! And thank goodness, TBFE and I aren't doing the whole garter thing. How embarassing!

Hmmm.....

Maybe I’ll just keep the poof to a minimum.

Long Weekend Update

My weekend actually started Thursday afternoon. I came home from work, sick. Not too terribly sick, but fighting something and just utterly exhausted. So I crawled into bed around 1pm, and slept until dinner.

Woke up Friday morning and just hurt, so back to bed I went.

Which, apparently was just what I needed because I was feeling much better by the time we headed out to a birthday party that night for a theater friend of Todd's. Luckily, the party was very tame. Like, curl up in a chair and watch the entertainment tame. There was also jambalaya, but I skipped it. As hard as it was.

I slept in Saturday (but still woke up in time to watch it SNOW), then TBFE and I made a big country breakfast. Biscuits, gravy, bacon and eggs. Yummy-poo. Around noon, Kayleigh and I jaunted off to a bridal shower way the hell up north and afterwards, we hit a bridal shop, just because we were nearby and I’m all about exploring as many options as possible before settling on a dress.

(I actually hit a fourth bridal shop late last week, where I found absolutely nothing worth even trying on. A clear sign I’ve made up my mind about a dress, huh?)

I tried on three dresses, more for Kayleigh than for me, but it just confirmed that I know exactly what I want. So, hopefully, I’ll get The One purchased in the next week or two. Might need one to try it on one more time, just to be sure.

After the bridal shop, we walked outside to find an amazing hailstorm/blizzard occurring. It was merely spitting a rain snow mix when we went in, but holy geez. You know the dipping dots ice cream? It looked like vanilla dipping dots everywhere. But they were little snowy ice balls. Baffling.

By the time we got back to Seattle, the sun was shining and the roads were dry. Huh.

Saturday night we curled up and watched Lars and the Real Girl, a very sweet and funny movie about a man and his sex doll.

Afterwards, I got a wild hair and went through the last two boxes of miscellaneous papers from the fire. I climbed up on the bed, turned the TV to "Happy Gilmore" and had a field day organizing the pertinent papers into piles and throwing the impertinent papers in the recycle bag.

And I came across an envelope that contained numerous cards and letters from complete strangers, who had written Todd and the kids after reading an article in the Seattle PI. Many of them sent checks. One woman apologized for not being able to send more but said she was in assisted living and on a fixed income. I just sat there, reading through them all and crying. I think I tend to forget how horrible 2005 and 2006 were for my new family. But reading the letters brought it all to the surface and put me right there with what they went through. I'm so impressed with how well Todd got himself and his kids through such an unbelievable year. And I think I am very lucky to have him, and the kids, in my life.

Sniff.

[ahem]

Anywho!

Sunday, even more sleeping in (not lazy, “sick”), then off to see “Always, Patsy Cline” at the ACT Theater. Don was part of the band, and while the play was good (just don’t get me started on Patsy’s singing….good, but nothing like the real Patsy), it was more fun to watch Don have such a great time. Hopefully, this will not be the end of his theater career.

After the play, dinner then grocery shopping then jammies, then curled up in bed watch Saturday Night Live specials and flipping through a wedding magazine. And asleep by 10. Whew.

And believe it or not, even with such a busy weekend, I feel pretty good. All the sleep must have kept the sickness at bay. Thank goodness.

And we're getting snow again today.
But global warming is just a myth.....

My Shoe Fetish

After reading this article, I don’t think I have a shoe problem at all. I think I’m doin’ a-okay.

My Superhero

This is newest Facebook thingy going around.
I'm a superhero.

Fear me.


Yeah.
I'm hawt.

Random Thoughts

Apparently it doesn’t matter how early I go to bed, I absolutely hate waking up in the morning. TBFE and I were in bed at 8:30 Tuesday night, fell asleep right at 10, and I was just as cranky and mad when I woke up. I’m tired of it.

Haha. Get it? “Tired” of it.

Man, I’m funny.

**********

Went dressing shopping again last night. You just don’t realize how exhausting it is until you’re in your car driving home and you turn off the radio because if you hear one more ANYTHING you will cry.

Oh sure, it’s fun to walk around in the poofy dresses, but you’re also taking in so much information from the woman cramming you into the gown and from your girlfriends. I don’t know how women take five and six people with them. I could totally see myself losing it and telling them all to shut up.

Kim and Jamie aren’t bad at all. I don’t tell them to shut up.

**********

However, this may be a sign that I’m getting into this wedding dress stuff more than I like to admit.

While looking through bridal magazines now, I can just glance at the name of the designer and think either “Ooh, I love their stuff!” or “Ew, not interested.”

I know the designers by name.
Just like I know my beautiful red shoes by name.

Anne Klein.
Christa.

Sigh.

**********

I’m thinking of taking up Bikram’s yoga again. I was going two or three days a week back in 2001 and I felt wonderful. The biggest indicator that I was going something really good for my body was that it was SO EASY to cross my legs. No hoisting one up on top of the other one.

Because my tendons were tight, not because my thighs were fat.
Just so you know.

**********

I am in one foul mood today. I’m exhausted and I have a headache right behind my left eye.

I would say I can’t wait for the weekend, but the items on the agenda don’t even sound that fun right now. I told Todd last night, I just want to come home, crawl in bed and stare at the wall. Is that so wrong?

He says that’s maybe not such a good sign.

**********

Rumor has it we’re supposed to get snow again this weekend. I’m alittle sick of that, too.

**********

I think I need a vacation. We were invited to go to Hawaii with friends, but due to my stupid job and lack of vacation time, we had to pass.

I would settle for one of the islands for a couple of days. I’m not picky.

**********

Sorry I don't have more exciting stuff to share with you.

Blah.

I Can't Work Like This!

Saturday was the Duo film shoot.

Some of us were up at 6:15am because we were just too antsy and excited to sleep. However, I was not one of these people. I finally rose at 7:15am (on a SATURDAY) and demanded a Starbucks stop on the way to the studio.

Once all the gear was unloaded, I prepared bagels and coffee with Trish and watched as a plain ol' room was transformed into an artist's studio. I witnessed sound muffling tricks (blankets tacked to the ceiling), camera angles staged, actors getting their make-up, marks being taped to the floor, and TBFE yelling "action!"

It was all very exciting.

And, being the cut throat, attention starved, sleep-with-anyone-to-work-my-way-up-the-ladder-of-fame chick that I am, I was promoted from MBK (Master of the Bathroom Key) to Script Supervisor in a mere three hours.

Look at me, supervising.
And here's my honey, directing. With his rock star, albeit Longhorns, hand gestures.

(By the way, we got rid of that sweatshirt. It's an XXL and, as you can see, my baby ain't no XXL anymore. He's a svelte little XL. Look at those little hips!)

It was a really fun day, but it was also a very long day. It reminded me of recording D'Jever back in May of 2006. Sing for three minutes, wait around for 15 minutes. Sing for three minutes, wait around for 15 minutes. But you feel so cool just waiting around with your headphones on.

Anywho, we finally wrapped up around 5pm and, in quite the star fashion, we rewarded ourselves with food and drink at the Celtic Swell.

Then promptly crashed at 9pm.

Whee.

My New Babies

Aren't they divine?
And even better....they were $60 off. The color has been discontinued.

Life.Is.Good.