Passionless


It has come to my attention, via therapists and Todd, that I am currently passionless. 

When asked last night what my passions were, rather than answering music, singing, dancing, writing, organizing or hell, even shopping……I cried. 

I have no passion right now.  We’re not planning a wedding or a move or a sale.  I’m not playing music, I’m not organizing, I’m not planning anything.  I’m bored.  Yes, I’m busy in the evenings (dinner, clean up, laundry, Facebook, movies) but I’m bored.  I need something to keep me awake, to make my heart pump with enthusiasm, to distract me during the day.

I think about when I’m happy.  Yes, when Tom is laying on me, but I can’t really make a “project” out of that, now can I? 

I was happy when we were shooting the Wolverine video.  I was cranky, too, because I was getting up at 7 am on Saturdays and Sundays, but I was around people I absolutely adored and who made me laugh and I was working toward something that was going to be awesome.  I was helping to create with my husband.  That was wonderful.

I was happy (albeit FREAKING OUT) when we were moving and planning the wedding and working on the house.  I didn’t have a spare minute to be bored.  I always had something to do, to work on, to think about.

I was happy when I was planning for everyone to come into town for the wedding.  Booking bed and breakfasts, organizing who should go where, making itineraries, drawing up maps.  Planning to make someone else’s stay in our city enjoyable.

I’m happy when I’m writing.  Let me rephrase that – I’m happy when I have something interesting or funny to share with you and I have time to sit and write it.  (And then I crack up when I re-read it because I think I’m so damn funny)

I’m happy when I’m making people laugh.  Like Mr. Cranky Non-Decorating Co-Worker.  I live to make him laugh.  He was out all last week, and I actually thought about decorating my cube for Christmas over the weekend, so when he returned on Monday, he would literally throw up.  His reaction would be so worth it.

So that’s my homework for this week – to find a project.  Find something that gives me focus and joy and brings energy into my life, rather than sucking energy out.

Sigh.

Any suggestions?



Weekend Update

First of all, hows about those Seahawks? Todd and I only saw the first quarter of the game in Bellingham, and that was enough to completely depress us. But Darragh, gawd bless his little football hating heart, texted me to talk some smack and ended up keeping us up to speed on the game until we got home. 31-6, baby!

However, the real story of the weekend was our trip to Bellingham early Saturday morning for Opa’s memorial service. There was a bagpiper and other special music, along with a flag ceremony, since Opa was in World War II. There was a nice reception afterward at the church, and then after that, a lovely casual hang out at Omi’s. Soon after we all arrived when Bob broke out the wine and everyone talked over everyone and I bonded with new family, Judy and Kat, who were in town from Sacramento and Florida.

And as Kat’s birthday was coming up, the grown ups went to Anthony’s for a late dinner, while Kayleigh and Zadra camped out with Omi and had a girls’ night, and Tyler went back with Gavin and Michelle to take care of the kitties.

Todd and I got a room at the Best Western for the night, which was handy after all of the wine and the crying, but also so very disappointing. I spent hours trying to find the nicest, yet affordable, room in Bellingham. I am very selective when it comes to hotels. I compared pictures, reviews, amenities, the whole shebang. And the Best Western appeared to have the nicest room, and the reviews boasted of it’s thick walls and quiet environment.

HA!

May I vent for a moment?

First, we were placed on the ground floor. And since that building was against a hill, it was underground. Not horrible, not great. But we checked in at 10:30pm after a very long and exhausting day, so I wasn’t going to complain about that. Next, there was no oversized tile shower like every photo showed. It was a shower stall. A small shower stall with a $10 white, plastic detachable shower head.

I am very particular about my hotel bathrooms. Very. And this one did not live up.

If Todd and I had been hanging out in the room, relaxing for a chunk of the day, these are things I would have bitched about. But it was late, and we were simply going to sleep, then get up and check out, so it really wasn’t worth the effort to complain.

Oh, but sleeping was no good.

The pillows are these huge, fluffy, break-yer-neck things. In the Frequently Asked Questions that sat on the desk, there was the question “How do I get a smaller pillow?”

Um. If that’s a “frequently asked question”, maybe your pillows are too big and you should think about also providing flatter pillows. Just a thought.

In addition to the bigass pillows, the doors to each room were heavy as shit, so anytime anyone shut one, the walls would rattle. And! We very clearly heard our upstairs neighbors’ conversation, even though they were yelling or partying. It sounded like they were just lounging around, shooting the breeze.

Thick walls my butt.

And we were placed right across from the Virginia Room, which is where they serve breakfast. I didn’t think too much about it when I checked us in, but boy howdy at 8am, I figured out why that was crappy placement.

Criminy! The clanging of the dishes, the way-too-loud-and-perky people walking down the hall, the slamming of every freakin’ door. Word to the wise – do not accept a room across the hall from the eating space. Not worth it.

So, while it wasn’t a romantic impromptu night together, at least we got to crash up there, rather than driving two hours back home after a long day of wine and crying.

And Sunday, we got up and had coffee with Sara and Kat, then dropped by Sara’s jewelry store to look at wedding bands. I’ve grown tired of mine.

Hee. Just kidding.

I have a very dainty, plain platinum band right now because we were running of time, options and money before the wedding. We decided a pretty, thin band would go just fine with snazzy engagement ring. But now, when I take my engagement ring off and just wear the band, it gets lost on my finger. And I’d like mine to have Celtic knot work like Todd’s. So we were exploring our options on Sunday.

After a little mall shopping, it was time to meet up with the rest of the family for lunch at one of their favorite spots. That’s where we watched the first quarter of the Seahawks game, and took a ton of crap from Judy. She’s a big 49ers’ fan, being from Sacramento and all, and she didn’t let up. I didn’t mind so much. Judy is very much a one liner kinda gal, so I felt like I was home.

And when we were all hugging goodbye for the day, before Todd, Kayleigh and I headed back to Seattle, Judy hollered at me “Come here and give me a hug, you little shit.”

That’s when I knew I’d found more family.

Once home, we all just kind of deflated. We got in our jammies, and snoozed on the couch and went to bed around 8:30pm. It was a long weekend of visiting and eating and remembering and crying, but I think we gave Opa a very loving and warm send off.

Random Thoughts

One of the reasons why I love Seattle is that we utilize goats.

This is all the rage now. Does any other city in the country utilize goats? They’re hired to clear out brush both commercially and privately.

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We’ve got another foot!
However, this one wasn’t in a tennis shoe. Interesting…

You may recall from previous posts that we have quite the foot problem up here in the Pacific Northwest.

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The kitties had their check up last week, and despite Sir Barfsalot's little puking issue, he's 100% healthy.  As is Elvis.  They also got their nails got clipped, so now it won't be so painful when Tom kneads my stomach like he's starting doing.

Todd and I have deduced that Tom pukes when he's stressed.  And he seems to be most stressed when I leave for work.  I often get emails from Todd that say "And just as you walked out the door, Tom horked."

However!  If Tom gets his lovin' the night before, and a little attention from me in the morning before I leave, he seems to be fine.  Guess he has some anxiety issues.  Living in a chicken coop will do that to you.

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Everything in my house is Todd sized.  Including the biscuits.

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Speaking of food, you can always tell what Kayleigh doesn't like at dinner.

In this case, red peppers and mushroom.

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I have been trying to get this post up since Friday.  There's just no time!  If I do have time, I'm snoozing on the bed or the couch.  I'm just so sleepy.  And the SAD season really isn't even full swing yet!  Although it is very fall like and dreary today. 

I will tell you we had a lovely Labor Day weekend.  Social time with Steve and Stephanie, lots of cleaning, lots of sleep, and my first ever game of Monopoly.  I did pretty well - Kayleigh and I bankrupted Todd and Tyler and then were trying to bankrupt each other.  After three and a half hours, we had to call it and tally up.  She beat me by $2000.  But I had 3/4 of the board.  MWHAHAHAHA.

If only I'd bought the Boardwalk first.  Hmph.

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And school starts tomorrow!  Yay!!

Healthy Just Ain't Worth It

CB and I branched out today (no pun intended – you’ll get it in a minute) and went to Whole Foods for lunch. After scouring all of the grab-n-go food, we each got a container of prepared ricey pasta crap, and then headed over to the bakery. Because if we’re eating healthy Whole Foods crap, we’re having dessert.

We got back to the office and sat down at our respective cubes to eat our lunches. Within a few bites, I thought “This takes like woods.”

It’s long grain parboiled brown rice, black barley, daikon radish seeds, red grape tomatoes, fennel, baby arugula, basil, zucchini, yellow squash, lemon zest and sea salt. Healthy, right?

Yes, but ah gawd, it tastes like crap.

A few minutes later, CB hollered over and said, “I think I’m eating dirt with leaves in it.” I asked what she got. She came over and showed me….and it was the same thing I had. Kermit and Mr. Cranky Non-Decorating Coworker laughed their tushies off at us.

Thank goodness we have that cookie and chocolate macaroon for dessert. It makes the dirt worth it.

Kind of.

Not really.

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Update: My stomach is killing me. Kind of feels like I’m still hungry, kind of feels like rocks working their way through my innards. Gah.

I think the macaroon will make it all better.
Or bring it all back up.

Whatever makes the pain go away.

Reason #4 Why I Love Todd

He makes the coffee every morning while I'm in the shower, and on most mornings, my breakfast. 

As we're waking up, he'll ask, "Coffee?" (if I wake up on the right side of the bed, I answer "Yes, please".  Wrong side of the bed?  "Well, duh!")
 

Then he'll ask if I want a egg sandwich or a breakfast burrito or something like that, and I get excited and really wake up.  And when I turn off my hairdryer, I'll hear him start the microwave or put the skillet in the sink.

Because he knows that when I'm finished blow drying my hair, it means I have about 10 minutes before I leave. 

So when I go in the kitchen to get my coffee, I'll find a Ziploc bag or a Tupperware dish waiting for me on the counter.  I don't bother to ask what it is; he knows what I like and don't like.

And it doesn't matter what it is.  All that matters is that my husband wants to make sure I actually eat breakfast so he makes me something and packs it up while I'm getting ready for work. 

How wonderful is that?

Yes, Yes. I'm Still Here.

I know, I know.  I suck.  Just what has been keeping me so busy that I can't possibly find time to put up a quick few sentences to let you know I'm still alive?

Work.  Simply put.  Work.

If I don't have time to jot things down during the day, it's hopeless. 

But today, I'm home on the couch with my favorite blanket watching bad reruns of Beverly Hills 90210 on cable.  So I have no excuse.

I had the second round of root canal done this morning, and despite Dr. Dean's claims that this one wouldn't be as bad as the last, I am in a helluva lot more pain.  Glad I went ahead and took tomorrow off, too.

In other news, we had a tiki/pirate/tropical party on Saturday night, and per usual, I freaked out about the happy hostess, which means I lost track of the cocktails and overdid it. Oy.  In talking with Todd about it, we've decided that I only seem to do this when we host.  I think it's the pressure of being the cute, friendly, social hostess.  I've always said I'm insecure - I'm not ashamed.  But that's just silly when people are telling me what a great hostess I am, and what a sweetie I am, and we even found a note Sunday morning that said I was an "adorable doll" and a "ray of sunshine".  So why on earth am I insecure?

Might have to talk to my therapist about that.  But now you can understand how proud I am of myself that I didn't ruin my own wedding reception.

Anywho, football preseason has started!

We beat the Titans on Aug 14 so that was exciting.  Our new coach, Carroll, seems to have really energized the team.  I didn't see the game this past Saturday, but we lost to Green Bay.  No biggie.  It's all good. 

Let's see....what else can I tell you?

I'm blanking out right now.  But at least I got something up here, right?

Go me.

I need painkillers.

Random Updates and Thoughts and Stuff

My sincerest apologies for not blogging for well over a week. I have an ASAPSAP project at work and it leaves no time at all for jotting down thoughts or reading the news or oogling over the cute kitties. Sheesh.

A few days ago, CB treated me to a pastry from Bakery Nouveau.  Oy.  Have you been to this place? She’s been telling me how fantastic their almond croissants are. Well, I like almonds and I LOVE croissants, so when she texted to see if I wanted one, I said sure.

She brought me this croissant that was the size of a large kitten. It was soaking the paper bag that it was in and it was warm. After two bites, I emailed her and asked her if it was deep fried. Because it sure as hell tastes deep friend (i.e. delicious). It was gooey and there was powdered sugar on it and I got through the top half (it was split in two) before I went to the bakery’s website to read the menu and find out what was in this heart attack.

Twice Baked Almond Croissant
Our classic croissant soaked in simple syrup and filled with delicious almond cream. It is topped with sliced almonds and additional almond cream.

Oh.My.Gawd. Soaked in simple syrup? Twice baked? Filled with almond cream? Kill me. Just kill me.

Because now I am hooked and am thinking of walking down there this weekend to get one for Todd so he can suffer with me.

Thank goodness I bought new pants.

Oh, I bought new pants! Four pairs of new jeans and two pairs of summer khaki roll ‘em up and button the little flappy on the side pants. Yes, they’re a bit bigger than my old pants, but boy howdy, it’s amazing how much more attractive you feel when you aren’t wearing pants that are two sizes too small and create the infamous “muffin top”.

Never attractive.

Let’s see….what else has been happening in my little world?

It's been hotter than hell here.  Todd and I have actually slept out in the living room a few times because there's a better breeze out there than in the bedroom.  The night that I slept on the couch, I woke around 5am to a nice little monsoon.  I couldn't figure out what the noise was as it was rolling in, but then it hit the house and wow.  Rain, glorious rain.  Which is very needed because this is currently our yard:

Nice, huh?  It crunches when you walk on it.  It's pitiful.  But you'll notice our neighbors still have green grass.  They cheat.  They have a built in sprinkler system.  Hmph.

Also, I think we have a rose bush.

It has thorns, and the leaves look like rose bush leaves.  We'll wait and see what happens.

Oh, and here is our tenacious blackberry bush.

Yep, growing up through the porch steps.  We keep saying we're going to clip it, but we don't.  It's just kind of neat.

Neat, makes me think of heat. 

We bought ceiling fans today.  We got the living room fan up, but when we tried to put the one up in the bedroom, we hit a snag.  The electric box is plastic, we have to have a metal one.   Also, the box isn't bolted to a stud.  It's just kind of stuck up in the attic.  Which will not hold a ceiling fan.

Crap.

So we have the electrician coming out this week to fix that problem.

And tonight is our first pre-season Seahawks game.  It's a bit hard to enjoy football when it's 90 degrees out, but I'm determined to do it.  It will be interesting to see what our new coach, Pete Carroll, has done with our team.  I'm not expecting any championships this year.  I'm just hoping to not get creamed every week.  That's not asking too much right?

Okay, off to prep for the game.  Wish us luck.

And send snow.

Poops for Kidd Valley

The first time CB and I went to Kidd Valley for lunch, I asked for a kid’s meal. I’m no fool. I know the regular size hamburgers are way too big for me and my tiny, petite frame (shut up!) The cashier said yes, I could do a kid’s meal, but they also had “mini meals”, which as I look at the online Kidd Valley menu, must just be special to the Queen Anne Kidd Valley.

The kid’s cheeseburger meal is $3.65. That includes a small fries and a small drink. But that hamburger is a tiny little plain hamburger. And a shake is extra. The mini-meal’s cheeseburger is, I believe, $2.65 and it’s smaller than the regular, but it’s loaded. Then you can get a small fries/small shake combo for $2.95. And the small shake is smaller than the small soda size.

So! You may pay $2 more than the kids meal, but you get smaller portions, fully loaded and a tiny shake to boot. Win win!

Now, if it weren’t for the homeless guy pooping on the sidewalk in front of the place, it would be the perfect lunch spot!

Yes. I’m serious.
And no, we won’t we be going to that Kidd Valley again.

I hate the city.

Happy Friday, Let’s Drill a Hole in Your Tooth!

I had big, big plans for this weekend. Big plans. And not one of those plans included a root canal.

I’ve looked up root canals in the past. I know what's involved.  And though I don't consider myself a squeamish person, I made the declaration that I would rather just have the damn tooth ripped out than have a root canal.  You remember, I have that pesky tooth that has a crack in it and it’s always been a bother. My dentist has been keeping an eye on it, and said the nerve is still alive and fine, so not much we can do about it.

Until last week. The toothache started on Monday, the headache came along on Tuesday and by Friday, I could barely stand to eat or hear. I sucked it up and made a dentist appointment with my sister’s best friend, Dean, who I’ve been seeing for about six years.

My initial phone call suggested the tooth had abscessed so they prescribed an antibiotic and wanted me to come in at 4:00 to take a look. After Dean checked the x-ray, he said, “Yep, all kind of infected. Let’s get you numbed up for a root canal!”

Uh. What? Aren’t there any other options?

He said, “We can take the tooth out. Sound good? No? Let’s numb up!”

That’s why I’m glad Dean’s my friend. He doesn’t give me a chance to wussy out.

So, after five shots (better to be too numb than not numb enough, I say!) I had my first root canal. And I must say, the actual procedure wasn’t too traumatizing at all.

It was when I started taking the Vicodin and the antibiotic that things took a turn for the worst.

I’ve always been able to take Vicodin. I PRIDE myself on the fact that I can take Vicodin. But, as we know, things change when you get older.

Actually, I think the big problem is that I have to eat when I take Vicodin. And after a root canal, it’s a bit hard to eat. So I made the mistake of taking it on an empty stomach one too many times, and finally on the drive home from the “On and On” screening Saturday night, my stomach said “NO MORE!” and promptly evacuated itself into a Safeway grocery bag.

So, no more Vicodin for the weekend.

But at least I made it to Chris’ birthday bbq and the “On and On” screening. I also slept until 3pm on Saturday and 2pm on Sunday, so that was a perk.  Cause you know how Rae-rae likes her sleep.

My tooth feels pretty okay today; I even put some ice cream against it last night and no sensitivity at all! Love that! Now if I could just get this little headache to go away. And right when it goes away, I get to go back into Dean and go through round two of the root canal. I just have a medicated insert in canal right now. Next is removing that and putting in the permanent filling. Which means more drilling. And more painkillers. Maybe we’ll try a different one this time. Or I’ll just make sure I have a lot of mushy bread type stuff on hand.

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I couldn’t help but laugh at loud at I Has a Hotdog this morning.

I feel the same way, doggie. The SAME way.

Random Thoughts

How do you get your man to make you a breakfast sandwich?

When you’re laying in bed, waking up, nuzzle him and ask him if he’s hungry. When he says yes, say “You should make yourself a breakfast sandwich. With cheese. And while you’re at it, make me one, too.”

Your man will inevitably pinch/tickle/bite/punch you, but you’ll giggle and be cute, therefore he won’t be able to resist and you will, in fact, get your breakfast sandwich.

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It’s been so hot here, I have a heat rash in my cleavage.

TMI? No such thing on this blog.

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My next door cube neighbor just got one of the new VOIP phones (I’ve had one for almost a year) and she discovered that she can change her ringtone. Instead of a ring now, I hear a man’s voice say “Are you there? Are you there?”

Haha. Yeah, that was funny the first two times it rang. I sense it won’t be funny for long.

My ringtone is a classic rotary dial ring. Unique, no?

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The light at Mercer is SO LONG that I can:

File all 10 of my nails
De-cathair my outfit
Floss my teeth
Pluck my eyebrows
Organize my purse
Swiffer the front section of my car
Start a blogpost

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I came up with a new hairstyle. I call it “Woke Up Too Late To Blow Dry My Hair But Thank Gawd I Have Gel Cause Now I Have That Hip Disheveled Look”.

And I bought some temporary color, so Todd is going to help me color my hair tonight. I need some foofin’.

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Todd and I watched It Might Get Loud last night. You’re not going to care very much if you’re not into music or guitars, but for those of us who are, HOLY CRAP.

To watch The Edge (from U2) ask Jack White (from the White Stripes) to teach him the basic riff for “Seven Nation Army”, and then to watch Jimmy Page (from Led Zeppelin) join in and then three of the awesomest guitar players jam together….well, it just makes the brain explode.

Ya gotta like guitar players to get it.

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And, as always, I leave you with cuteness.

(Well, this IS an armchair, is it not?)

(The wide angle of Tom's tushy)

Mourning Fading

I am happy to say that things are back to normal here in Raechelle-land. Maydell was laid to rest last week, so I think that’s helped with the sadness.

Needless to say, last week was a crappy, crappy week. But after waking up Saturday morning and making the conscience decision that I was going to have a good weekend with my husband, the stars fell into place and Todd and had one of the best weekends we’ve had in a long time. The beautiful summer weather help tremendously.

I slept in Saturday, then joined Todd across the street for brunch with our neighbors, Dave and Greg.

Side note – I think I’m entering a new age bracket. In the last two weekends, I’ve attended two brunches. Each invitation led me to believe it was a come-hang-out-maybe-grab-a-muffin-and-a-mimosa kind of thing. Oh no. Val’s brunch-n-book exchange two weeks ago was a sit down, with tablecloths and quiche kind of event. It was lovely. Cold, but lovely. Then yesterday, Dave had told me to just wander over whenever I got up and about (the scheduled time was 9am. On a Saturday. Ha! Not even for a mimosa.) So I headed over about 10am. I knocked and opened the door but didn’t see or hear anyone. Oh no! I thought. Did I miss it?! Then I heard laughter outside, so I went through the kitchen, out to the back patio and found a group of nine people sitting around a table with linen napkins and fancy glasses. Another sit down! I’m glad I wore a dress.

Anyway, I met up with my hubby for breakfast with a few neighbors, then we all walked a half a block to California, set up our camp chairs and watched the West Seattle Grand Parade. I’m normally not a parade kind of gal (except the Solstice Parade) but this was low energy, not crowded at all, and a good excuse to just sit in the beautiful sunshine. I have to say, the police motorcycle brigade, both Seattle and Vancouver, were my absolute favorite. We chatted with one of the Vancouver officers while he was parked, blocking traffic, and learned that they’ve had to alter their routine in the last few years after they had a major accident that permanently disabled one of their officers. Very sad. But they’re formations were just incredible.

After the parade, we took Kayleigh and Lydia to the beach then garage saled. Yes, it’s a verb.

Side note – I have decided I want to be a grandma’s house. I want to have a toy box full of toys for all of our friends who have kids. I want to have some plastic play stuff out in the back yard, so we can hang out back there and the kids can play. I want to have some sippy cups on hand and maybe some tiny plastic utensils. I want the kids (and their parents) to love coming over to our house because we have everything they need.

So Todd and I picked up a free plastic slide, a box of sidewalk chalk, a bag of dinosaurs, a bag of cars and fire trucks and a doodle board. I need to get some coloring books and some toys for babies, so Trish and Dan don’t have to lug things over to our house for Rosiland.

All I need is the doily table cloth and you can call me Granny. Wait! I HAVE doily table cloth! And it’s on the table right now!

Saturday evening, I took Todd out for dinner. It’s been a while since we’ve had a nice dinner, just the two of us, and since we’d both been kind of icky last week, it seemed like a good time to bond. We went to Jak’s down at the Junction. Yummy yummy yummy. I’d never been, but Todd promised it was fantastic. And boy howdy, was it.

After dinner a couple of drinks, we walked back home to find two boys hanging out on our front porch. Gawd bless my daughter – I told her she could not have her male friends in the house while Todd and I were gone. So she made them stand on the porch while she and Lydia cooked them dinner. Mac-n-cheese.

Must remember this loophole in the future.

Todd and I were a bit too mushy and happy to be in the house with five teenagers, so we took our bottle of wine and plopped down out in the front yard. Once the kids left for the Movies on the Wall, we fired up the Wii and rocked out like a couple of young/middle aged parents can do after a bottle of wine. I rawked the hell out of “Heartbreaker” by Pat Benatar. Even those high notes at the end.

Ask our neighbors. I bet they heard me.

After the exhaustion of Rock Band, we curled up in our room, while the kids, back from the Movies on the Wall because they had no chairs and were uncomfortable, hid away in Tyler’s room to watch the exact same movie that was playing at the wall. Wonderful.

And it was a restless night. Hotter than a hippy in Kerrville and no breeze. Todd ended up on the couch, where there WAS a breeze from all of the windows open, and Tom took advantage of the open bedroom door to sleep with me.

Sunday, yet another brunch. Only we hosted and it completely wasn’t planned. I wanted to make dutch baby. I wanted to be social. So we called our trusty good-for-last-minute-plans-that-involve-food, Steve and Stephanie. Of course, you have to have mimosas when you have a brunch (complete with doily tablecloth) so that always starts a beautiful sunny Sunday off on the right foot.

After Steve and Steph left, and Todd took Kayleigh over to her friend’s, he and I got ourselves together and went to Crate & Barrel. My dutch baby was just barely enough for six people so I needed a bigger dish. Luckily, we still had some money left on our gift card, so we also bought some tea spoons for jam. As mom and dad taught us, tea spoons have that nice, long handle to get down in the jar of jam. What a great tip.

And then there was lunch and popping in to get our wedding rings cleaned at Ben Bridge, then spending yet another gift card at Victoria’s Secret and then a little java frappuccino before heading back home.

Once home, we were attacked by a vicious nap, so the original plan of grocery shopping was dashed. Oh darn. But a couple of hours later, we got our second wind and worked on some administrative stuff and made a light dinner and then tidied up the house, and then finally, bed.

Whew.

I do love the summer here in Seattle. But if you think I cram a lot into a weekend during the fall and winter, you should see me in the summer.

MUST.DO.EVERYTHING.RIGHT.NOW.

Our 10 day forecast shows nothing but blue skies and high 70/low 80 degree weather. Now THIS is why we put up with nine months of winter.

Although, ceiling fan shopping may be in order soon.

Remembering Maydell

When I lived in West Virginia, Maydell would pick me up every Sunday morning for church. My parents didn’t go to church. But for some reason, they thought I should.

So Maydell would pick me up, take me to Sunday School (where I would dip my Cheetos into my ice tea), then drive me home. I’d hop out of her car and run up to mom, who, in the summer, would be laying out on her folding lawn chair, listening to the radio. My pool would be up and filled and I’d immediately change in my swimsuit (or not, it was the country) and jump in.

That’s one of my favorite memories from West Virginia. I think of that scene whenever I hear the Bellamy Brothers or Don Williams.

I also remember playing in Maydell’s attic (I think it was the attic) with Cindy, Maydell’s granddaughter. Cindy and I were the best of buds. The attic had a couple of little, hidden rooms and it was hot as hell but Cindy and I spent hours up there. When I was small enough to fit up there.

I’d always stop in and see Maydell whenever I was in Nestorville. She still lived in the same house, at the end of my uncles’ road. We still sent each other Christmas cards and I had just gotten a letter from her before we left for West Virginia a few weeks ago. She sent me a picture she found of me, Cindy and some little boy, Andrew. I don’t remember him. I was about four in the picture. We were in Maydell’s living room.

I tried to see Maydell when we were in West Virginia. I had sent her a wedding photo of me and Todd, and I wanted her to meet him, and Kayleigh. We stopped by, but her car wasn’t in the garage, and I tried to call her the next day, but there was no answer. That’s Maydell – very social, always out and about, still driving at 88 years old and shuttling people to church.

So it was when she failed to show up at church on Sunday, that people grew concerned and a neighbor walked over to check on her.

And he found that Maydell had passed way.

But what is so troublesome, is that it appears that Maydell’s passing was not at all natural. There were signs that someone may have hurt her.

Nestorville is an unincorporated town of maybe 300 people. For the most part, everyone knows everyone, and everyone knew Maydell. There are some strangers who have moved in, and unfortunately, your mind tends to wander to those people as suspects. There was evidence left behind, and the state police spent all of Sunday at her house, so hopefully we will have answers soon.

In the meantime, my energy is sapped and all I want to do is sleep and/or cry. Maydell was like a grandmother to me, and it physically hurts to think that someone could do such a thing to her. I can still hear her voice as it shook and I still see her out tending to her garden. She was a gentle, quiet, loving woman who still had many vibrant years left in her.

So, when I get back to a better place and can be entertaining and funny, I’ll post more. Until then, I’m just going to curl up and remember the good ol’ days.

Random Thoughts

I’m wearing jeans today. I haven’t worn jeans in almost two weeks. And it’s been fantastic. These really aren’t comfortable at all. Maybe I just need bigger ones?

Sad.

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Our new cell phone law went into effect on June 1. In the past, talking on the phone wasn’t reason enough to pull someone over. If a cop pulled them over for speeding, and they happened to be on their phone, then they could get ticket for that. But now, cops can pull you over if they see you talking on your phone or texting.

I like this new law (because I have Bluetooth.)

While sitting at the SLUT light, I only saw two people talking on their phones as they drove by. This used to be how I killed time at this intersection – put the car in park, count the jackasses on the their phones.

But today, only two. Guess that $124 ticket is a deterrent, huh?

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The taste of warm Coke or Pepsi immediately takes me back to Surfside Beach in Texas.

We moved to Texas in 1982 and my folks were so excited to live near a beach, we were there every weekend during the summer. And we were professional beach people. We had the truck stocked full of towels, coolers, blow up rafts, lawn chairs and the radio. We would spend hours and hours at the beach. And we didn’t wear sunscreen! Cause it was Texas! In the 80’s!

Anyway, the cooler would be stocked with Pepsi and cheese and bologna for sandwiches. I would nurse a Pepsi all day, because you know I don’t drink much throughout the day (unless it’s alcohol, but I was 8 then) and by the afternoon my Pepsi would be warm. And usually full of sand.

Anyway, I got a Coke out of the vending machine on Monday, and didn’t finish it, so it was still sitting on my desk. When I took a swig, it was warm and I was right back at Surfside Beach, in my little blue bathing suit, listening to The Bellamy Brothers and smelling the dirty beach water.

Good times.

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It’s actually pretty beautiful here today - 74 degrees and sunny. Just lovely. Seattle had a major heat wave last week. But luckily, Todd, Kayleigh and I were in West Virginia where it, too, was hot and miserable but we were blessed with air conditioning. A luxury we do not have here in Seattle.

Todd and I are contemplating ceiling fans, though. It just makes sense, doesn’t it?

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I leave you today with Elvis.
Enjoy.

 (Our long, proper kitty)

(Elvis 'tocks)

A Week at Pisswilly Ranch

The trouble with spending any time in West Virginia is that I fall into the pace of the hillbilly. Which makes it even harder to return to reality.

I checked my email maybe twice a day, just because Mom’s computer is always up and running, or maybe Todd was online and asked if I needed to do anything before he shut down. There were never any emails. And I was just fine with that.

You can’t get any cell phone reception at my folks’ so there was no need to even turn on my phone. I was completely disconnected from real life. And it was so nice.

Then we get to the airport and everyone is on their laptops, or texting and cell phones are ringing everywhere, and it’s like being lost in the jungle for a long time, only to return to civilization and realize that civilization is really annoying.

Despite being annoying, here I am on Todd’s laptop, 35,000 feet over Michigan, working on this blog post. So my annoyance is extremely short lived, huh?

So!  Notes from the trip:

The Milwaukee airport employees are super nice. Going through security was extremely easy and stress free. Unlike SeaTac airport, where the employees are cranky and snap at you if you don’t move quickly enough.

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Detroit has a really nice airport. There’s a red tram/train/thingy that runs above you. It’s very pretty.

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We had a ton of family out on the 4th.   Family that I hadn't seen in ages and family I've never met.  Including my mom's sister, Jeannie.  See the resemblance?

(I don't care that I look like crap.  It was freakin' hot!)

And, of course, we had the obligatory sibling photo.

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Audra State Park, on the Tygart Valley River, has a fantastic swimming hole. No, we didn’t actually swim there, but Todd and I walked out onto the rocks and kicked around in the water a bit. There are huge rocks in the middle of the river and the water is only ankle deep over most of them. Just lovely.

 (Tygart Valley River)

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I still cry every time I leave Nestorville. My folks live about 12 miles from there, but we drove over to see my uncle and to get down in the creek. The last time we went there, to say goodbye, I bawled on the drive out. It’s just such an important place to me.

As is my great grandmother’s grave. We went by to say hi, and as I dusted off her headstone, I started to cry. She’s been gone seven years now, and I still miss her terribly.

**********

My parents have an incredible front porch. I believe it’s 10 feet wide and 30 feet long. I never got tired of sitting out there and just watching the birds or the squirrels or the bunnies or the deer. If you’re going to go on vacation and have set the goal of “not doing a damn thing”, my parents’ porch is the ideal spot.

(The Porch)

(Me, relaxin' on The Porch)

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Goober, their cat, is a hoot. He talks to mom when he wants to eat or wants to go outside. Mom talks back to him, which makes her look like a crazy cat lady, but it’s also comforting that she’s got a little buddy who gives her a hard time.

**********

Kayleigh is not a country bumpkin. I think I got to her too late. She didn’t care for the creek (WHAT?!) and the bugs were starting to get to her by about Thursday. Getting burnt in the little inflatable pool didn’t help matters, either.

We did, however, enjoy a Slip-n-Slide.  Well, Kayleigh enjoyed the Slip-n-Slide.

(Kayleigh, slippin' and slidin')

This is proof that 35 year olds should not attempt to slip-n-slide.

(Ow.)

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Traveling is getting harder. My patience is shorter and my back and legs don’t like sitting for five hours. I will never again give my parents a hard time about not flying out to visit me. I get it now.

But Todd is wonderful travel companion. He balances me out.

Oddly enough, this is the only picture of the two of us.  Huh.

(Happy, sweaty couple)

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Thank goodness I cut my hair the day we left. It was 90 degrees with 80 percent humidity and that hair on my neck would have driven me insane. As would putting it up in a ponytail every day.

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And I leave you with Ma and Pa.

Don't let that look on his face fool you.  He's really happy.

Random Pre-Vacation Thoughts

Dear Mother Nature,

Come on!! Really? Rain, 50 degrees? Really?! What’s wrong, honey? I hope you’re okay. I hear that next week you’re going to give us 75 degree weather. That’s more like it! Not that I care, because I’ll be in West Virginia in 85 degree weather and brilliant sunshine, but I’d like my friends here to have some summer weather, too.

Get well soon,
Rae-rae

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CB and I went to see Eclipse last night (I am not ashamed!) It was still cheesy (“I’ll never love anything more than Edward!”), and Edward still talks through a clenched jaw, and Bella still has no personality, but it SO MUCH better than the last two movies. SO MUCH BETTER. Vampires actually had their arms and heads ripped off. Granted, there was no blood at all (except when dufus cuts her self on purpose), but still – there was death. Right on.

And when Jacob was carrying Bella through the woods, I leaned over to CB and asked “How could one possibly refrain from kissing his neck?” (unless you’re married because I’m married and I would NEVER kiss a 17 year old boy’s neck. Because I’m MARRIED. And I could go to jail. And I’m married.)

That boy looks like he’s been Naired from the neck down. He is as smooth as a baby’s butt.  (Notice I did not show you any gratuitous six-pack shots?  Because that would make me a pervert and MY HUSBAND would be very unhappy with me.  Because I am married.)

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And speaking of Twilight, Jenn at Jennsylvania is freakin' brilliant.  For your entertainment, she uses her Twilight action figure dolls (swear ta gawd) to act out her version of the movie for you.  She did this with New Moon, too.

I want to be this woman's friend.  I want to have drinks with her.  I love how her brain works. 

You must read the post.  Even if you don't know the story.  You must.

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This picture is very familiar to me:

Tom likes to sit on my chest while I’m reading, then he’ll lick my face.

And we wonder why I’m sneezing my head off all day.

Oh, but the kitteh is so worth it.
Love my kitteh. And going to miss my kitteh terribly while we’re on vacation. Todd says I can’t take him with me. Hmph.

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Speaking of vacation, I leave with you a haiku.

Off to warm country
Mountains, creek, family and rest
Already dread return

Do not fear, dear reader.  I'm sure I'll blog from West Virginia.  You know how I love to share my vacations (and pictures) with you.

Until next time....

Exactly What Is The Lesson Here?

Ya ever had one of those days where you wonder just what the hell the Universe is trying to do to you? You start to think you’re being punished for something or wonder if there’s a lesson to be learned.

Take Wednesday, for example.

Todd made iced tea yesterday afternoon. I opened the fridge later to find the iced tea on it’s side and iced tea in both drawers and running out under the fridge. So, I take the drawers out, sop up the floor with paper towels, and notice that the tea has run under the mat by the back door. So, I pick up the mat….but it sticks to the floor. And when it finally does come up, oh my god, the stench. Apparently a bio bag had sat on it at one point and leaked. And the floor was soaked. Still. So, the mat drips everywhere (including on me) and I throw it out back and I get more paper towels to sop that up. Then I get a bucket of Pine Sol to wash the floor but it appears that the ick has run under the fridge. So, we move the fridge and oh god, more stench. After scrubbing the floor I look around and realize those drips are everywhere (and there are drips from the drawers I pulled out of the fridge) so I figure I might as well mop the whole damn floor.

I move everything out of the kitchen and get the only bucket I can find, which is a smidge too small for the mop (this was my first mistake – using a mop. I usually strap on my knee pads and wash the floor by hand) but I’m careful and just dip the mop in as far as I can while it’s folded (one of those fan flapper maps that you use the handle to squeeze it and get the water out).

Only my hand is wet so the mop lets loose and flies open, thus breaking the plastic bucket and sending the water out onto the kitchen floor.

So, not only do I have stench and drips everywhere, I have a huge puddle of Pine Sol water. So, I use paper towels to sop up the Pine Sol water, which feels ironic.

I go through a roll of paper towels sopping up the water, then after digging around for 15 minutes, find another bucket that will actually accommodate the mop (I’m tired and frustrated and not willing to get on the floor at this point). So, I finally get floor mopped and the stench is starting to dissipate and we are finally ready to cook dinner.

Fried chicken.

Which means I have to spray down the stove, the countertop and floor in front of the stove after dinner because there is grease everywhere.

I am so done.

But the highlight for today? Aside from being a mere one day away from vacation?

CB and I are going to see Eclipse tonight at the grown up theater. With adult beverages. Despite how much you hate the Twilight series, it makes for a fun girly evening.

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Note: Number of times I used “So,” in this post = 10.
So?

Busy Weekend Update

I forgot to actually post this on Tuesday.  Foot!

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Friday started our weekend off a bit messy. There’s was miscommunication about Kayleigh’s plans, then a family meeting about expectations during the summer (i.e. I expect you to help out around the house more since you have no responsibility and get to sleep in late while I have to get up early and sit in a cube all day and I really don’t think it’s fair that I still have to put your dishes in the dishwasher when I get home) then Kayleigh left and it was time for pizza a movies but the movie Vampires was pan and scan and my director hubby will have NONE OF THAT so we watched the BluRay version of Road Warrior.

And then I fell asleep while Todd stayed up and played.

Saturday was shopping. I picked my friend CB up at 11:30am and we headed to the big Goodwill downtown. She’s pregnant and doesn’t want to spend a lot of money for maternity clothes, so we made a day of it. And boy howdy, it was a long day. I got home at 5:30pm. Whew.

I was hoping for lots of summer clothes, but came away with three sweaters (including a black, cashmere cardigan for $5 – SCORE!), a dress, a pair of capris and a top. Woohoo.

That evening was Ann’s birthday party, along with her twin sister’s, at a swanky club/bowling alley in Bellevue. So Todd and I made the trek over to eat, drink, bowl and be merry. Well, we didn’t bowl. We were just merry.

Sunday, was (GASP!) even more shopping! Gotta get ready for the hot weather of West Virginia (5 more days!). For some reason, I was awake at the ungawdly hour of 8am, so the hubby and I were out the door by 9am. We got our coffee and headed to Target. Which proved to be so much more productive than Goodwill. Capris that fit perfectly (so I bought two pair), a peasant top that was uber comfortable (so I bought two), a bright, thin hoody (perfect for just the slight chill of the mountains) and even another comfy top. Good stuff.

After Target, we hit a couple of places in Southcenter, but didn’t have has much luck and we were wearing pretty thin by the time, so we called it a day. At 1:30pm. Todd dropped me off at Steph’s to help her with some house stuff, then Steph took me home and I got cleaned up in time for dinner with the Grismore’s, who were in town. And after dinner, Tyler wanted to watch Tombstone (the best movie EVER).

At about 10pm, it was getting a little too late for me and the movie still wasn’t over, so I excused myself and went to bed early. All that shopping really takes it out of you, I guess.

We have just a few last minute errands to run before we fly out Friday night. And then! Let the vacation begin…..

Yeah, baby.

WTF?

No, this is not the Friday segment of WTFWRD? This is me literally asking, what the frick?

It’s not even 9am and I have had the worst morning since I can remember. It’s just one of those days where my happiness is thwarted at every turn.

First, a dressing issue. Every morning, I lay in bed and think about what I’m going to wear that day, so I can get an extra 5 minutes of shuteye. But when it comes down to actually getting dressed, if that outfit doesn’t pan out, well, my morning is all screwed up. Such was the case this morning. But I found a quick resolution. Long dress, flip flops (I know!) and my black, flowy cover up.

So that crisis was averted.

Then I sat at the Mercer light for, what felt like, FOREVER. I hate that light. I hate South Lake Union. I hate the SLUT. I hate the new traffic lights. I hate the beggars on the corner who try to give me puppy dog eyes so I’ll give them money. I DON’T HAVE ANY MONEY! I should print out my bank statement and show it to them when they come up to the window. They’ll see my balance of $25.89 and then maybe give ME a dollar.

I finally get through the stupid light, and I make a beeline for Starbucks on Westlake (because Todd and I both woke up a bit late and we didn’t make coffee. And it’s Friday! Big ass latte Friday!) Only no one could seem to maneuver the freakin’ parking lot at Starbucks.

Which way should I turn? I could turn left, but is that a parking spot up there? Maybe I should try to go up there. So let me sit here and think for a minute while there’s a line of cars piled up behind me in the intersection. Do do do….

GET OUT OF THE WAY SO I CAN GET MY COFFEE!

I finally get into a parking space, next to a blue car. A blue car that is not actually in a parking space, but rather, on the white striped lines that are next to a handicap space. And the car is empty but the motor is running. Who does that these days?

Obviously, an idiot. If I had any balls at all, I would have gotten in that car, very casually, and drove it around the block and parked it. Maybe teach them a lesson.

But alas, I have no balls, and I still hadn’t had coffee yet, so priorities.

For the first time, there is more than two people in line at this Starbucks. Fan-freakin-tastic.

At least a I get a chuckle talking with woman in front of me. She is a regular, so she didn’t even have to open her mouth when she got to the register. The barista had already rung her up before she could say hi.

Eventually, I get my big ass latte and head back to my car. The blue motor running car is gone now. I wish I’d seen who was driving it.

I pull out of my parking space, and drive around and come to a stop sign.

Thus, another moment of complete confusion.

Cars coming from my right, pedestrians walking in front of me, a car stopped on my left, more cars coming straight. Traffic finally eases and I start forward.

Only to have a Barbie doll bitch in her $50,000 Audi attempt to turn left, right in front of me.

So, of course, I slam on my brakes and my purse goes flying into the passenger seat floorboard (as is required EVERY FREAKIN’ DAY I AM SO SICK OF DRIVING).

And Barbie has the nerve to throw her hands up, shake her blond-from-a-bottle Barbie doll head and mouth “WTF?”

My thoughts exactly, Barbie.

Why the frick didn’t you have your turn signal on, indicating to me that you would like to turn left, in front of me? Does that $50,000 car not have turn signals? Gee, that’s not good. You might want to go back to the dealership and ask about that. I think you were overcharged.

If you had put your turn signal on, I would have gladly waited for you to turn, and I might have even given you a slight wave because your car is very pretty and I would have been surprised that a nice, courteous person was driving it, rather than the stereotypical bitch who thinks she can do whatever the hell she wants, without any regard to the rest of the people in her small, little world, just because she has a sugar daddy who is probably twice her age and buys her all of the expensive crap she whines for, and she has no other responsibility in life except to decide which caviar she and her girlfriends want to have with their brunch on Sunday.

Where was I?

Oh. Yes. Use your freakin’ turn signal so my purse doesn’t end up in my floor board!

So I FINALLY get out of the Starbucks parking lot, only to get up to the next gawdforsaken light, and witness a truck in the lane to my right, turn LEFT, along with the actual left turning lane, which I am actually in.

ARE YOU KIDDING ME?

Did you not see my question in the Seattle Times in 2006 (third question down)?

You cannot turn left from that lane! See the arrows on the road, jackass!?

And then comes the SLUT intersection, where I just put my car in park at the red light and wait because I swear it’s a 10 minute light. And then I drive down the street, only to get to another light and wait and wait and wait, and when the light finally turns green, the stupid car in front of me just sits there, like he’s waiting for a written invitation to proceed forward so of course, I have to lay on my horn, while still having a I-am-going-to-kill-someone-crazy smile on my face, just in case he looks in his rearview mirror because I don’t want to look mean. (Crazy is okay, just not mean).

And then I finally pull into my parking garage and thank the Zinfandel, my three favorite spots are open so I have my pick and the nice lady just ahead of me holds the door to the elevators because I am juggling my coffee, my Tupperware dish of lunch, my keys, my badge and a banana peel, and I’m tripping over my dress because it’s a smidge too long, and my flip flops are already annoying me but she’s nice and says “Happy Friday” and I accidently glare at her, but recover and say “Thank gawd” and she laughs which makes me smile, so things are looking up.

Bathroom Etiquette

Am I the only one who peeks under the stall to see if someone is in there, instead of just yanking on the locked door? That yank is quite startling when you’re trying to go pee. How hard is it to just bend over a little and look for feet?

And also, please don’t stand in the bathroom and have a conversation. I’m trying to do some personal business here and it’s hard enough when there’s someone else in the next stall trying to do their own personal business. But when I know you’re just standing out there, flapping your gums, it’s just added pressure. I don’t want to interrupt you with some loud, obnoxious sound, but then, maybe if I do, you’ll get the point and move your conversation out into the lobby.

In any event, give me some privacy, please. I don’t come stand in your cube to fart. Don’t come into the bathroom to talk.

Thanks.

Happy Freakin' Solstice

Our high was 63.
Shoot me.

We've had "delayed" summers but this is just ridiculous.  What is up with Mother Nature?

On a different note, happy birthday Ruby.

Sniff.
I miss ya.

Quick Father’s Day Weekend Update

We had an especially low-key but social weekend. I love those.

Friday, I took 1.5 hours of vacation and rushed home to get some yard work done. It was close to 75 degrees and sunny and our grass was about knee high. So, Kayleigh mowed the front yard, while I held the electric cord and then swept up. Then Todd mowed the back, while I pulled the two foot tall weeds along the fence and parking pad. We still need to weed eat, but the yard looks much, much better.

Then Stephanie and Isabella dropped by to say hi, but ended up staying for Friday night movies. Dan, Trish and Rosiland also joined us. We watch Mirromask, which Steph and Isa really enjoyed, even though it was a bit scary in some parts for Isa. It’s a beautiful film with a lot of special effects and a dreamy quality.

Saturday, I slept in until 10am, then got into housewife mode. I made coffee, had breakfast, cleaned up the kitchen, started some laundry, tidied up the bedroom. It was lovely.

JD and Ron came over that afternoon to see Todd’s progress on the video, then Lydia came over later that afternoon. Todd and I went grocery shopping, then he made some cheesy pasta for dinner (it’s the best, Jerry, the BEST!) and then watched The Crucible (Kayleigh's choice) with Daniel Day Lewis (yuck) and Wynona Ryder (yay!).

The Crucible is about the Salem Witch Trials. Great film, but just maddening because 1) it’s a true story and 2) people were so ignorant back then. Wynona would simply say “I saw so and so with the devil!” and suddenly that person would be arrested and hanged because they were practicing witchcraft. No proof. Just one jealous little girl’s comment and BAM! Executed. Maddening.

And then Sunday was Father’s Day. When I finally dragged my butt out of bed to give Todd his card and make french toast for breakfast, I found him already online with JD playing Champions. So, he had a good start to his day. I made breakfast for everyone, then we got cleaned up, took Lydia home and went to see Toy Story 3 downtown (daddy’s selection for Father’s Day).

There are not enough good things to say about Toy Story 3 or Pixar. Those people are freakin’ amazing.

And then after the movie, Stephanie and I got some one on one bonding time talking houses and watching Forgetting Sarah Marshall (which I absolutely loved) at her house, while Steve and Todd hung out and watched their own set of movies. When I got home, at 9:30pm, I could hear Rock Band from down on the sidewalk. Todd and the kids were rockin’ out. It was a nice ending to a nice weekend.

And the West Virginia Countdown – 13 days.

Yeehaw!

I Crack Myself Up

I followed a WSDOT truck to work today, and on the back it said “INCIDENT RESPONSE TEAM”.

But I misread it as “INDECENT RESPONSE TEAM”.

I started picturing 50 and 60 year old workers with hairy beer bellies, in hard hats, yellow vests and thongs, hopping out of the truck, bustling around to respond to this incident.

I laughed out loud in my car. Then I re-read the truck and laughed even harder.

Now, why is that I didn’t think of buff, young, 20 somethings hopping out of this truck?

Interesting.
I’ll have to talk to my therapist about that.

Desperate Times Call for Desperate Measures

I have started yet another blog.

I know, right?

This one is about my weight.  I need to lose weight. I have hit my heaviest this morning at 155. And this is not good.

In December of 2007, I was at 132. I was happy. I was comfortable in my clothes.

I was also in a severe depression, I was forgetting to eat, I was on pills that I wasn’t supposed to mix with alcohol and I was walking every evening because I was lonely and bored.

Skip ahead three years and I am happy and married and making dinners every night and celebrating my new life with sweets and wine.

It’s really just a recipe for fatness. Now my back hurts and my knees hurt and I get winded when I vacuum.

So, what’s the best way to lose weight? Aside from the obvious?

Hold yourself accountable to someone.
Or to a group of strangers on the interwebs.

By being frank (don't call me Frank!), posting my weight (I am not ashamed!) and telling you what I eat (except for the desserts.  Kidding), I cannot be in denial. It’s all laid out there. I will not fib to you.

I would like to be able to post my weight each day, but I don’t think I’ll have the time, between actually working and then going home to a full house. But I’ll get at least three or four posts up a week. I promise.

So, because I know you need even more crap to read from me, please visit Well Past Voluptuous.

It’s Like Leaving Camp

Sunday night was the wrap party for the video we’ve been shooting. There was lots of champagne (oy) and beer and laughter and drunken people (okay, just Raechelle) caught on camera.

When we talked to JD yesterday, he said it was like leaving camp. You want to go home, but then again, you don’t. We’ve been hanging out with pretty much the same group of people for the last two weekends. It’s a bit sad that we won’t be hanging out this coming weekend. I asked Todd, “Now what do we do? What can we shoot next?” Todd said let him actually get this video done, and then we’d do another project.

Although, I have to say, I am looking forward to sleeping past 7am this weekend.

Saturday was ninja day. The ninja (yes, that the plural. Ninjas is just wrong. Trust me.) were hysterical. Great guys who love playing dress up and flinging swords. Kyle (of Kirby Krackle) came by to watch and was uber impressed. Which helps, when the video is for him.

(The ninja, just hangin’)

(Me, being fierce while standing in for JD)

And Sunday was the bar scene. We had the whole set of actors there and spent most of the day in a basement bar. While it was 75 degrees outside. We had to block out the two nice daylight windows, for lighting purposes, so there was no breeze and a ton of lights, and a ton of bodies and oh my gawd, the drinking was good at the end.

AND I had my official debut as an actor. I was a barmaid. I walked on set, passed out two drinks, picked up two empty glasses, then walked offset. I think I have enough for a resume now. Maybe I should think about headshots?

(Me and makeup artist and costumer, The Gore Sisters)

After cutting loose and partying with the cast and crew Sunday night, Rae-rae was looking forward to sleeping in Monday morning, maybe only waking before noon because she had to either pee or eat. Something very important like that.

However, the Universe was not down with that plan, so I was awake at 7am and up out of bed at 8am. Shoot me. But I woke up happier than I had been in a really long time. It was nice to just lounge in my jammies, have some coffee, cuddle with my husband and go about my day in a leisurely I-ain’t-got-a-damn-thing-to-do kind of way. Okay, I did clean up the kitchen. But that’s it! I got a lot of Tom cuddle time, and a couple of short naps and even a few minutes of reading in the sunshine (then the sunshine said “Screw this! We’re not in some tropical paradise, you silly pale woman! BRING ON THE BLACK CLOUDS!)

Our calendar is considerably empty for the next couple of weeks, and that is a-okay. That’s more time to prepare for our upcoming trip to West Virginia.

And I cannot wait.

Random Friday Thoughts

The maintenance lady here in my office just came around with her duster. We’ve talked about Swiffers before, and then two months ago, the building started scheduling dustings. I was not impressed by the first dusting. And now I know why.

The lady used her duster to dust a little here, and dust a little here. She never moved anything – she just hit the spots on the desk that were bare.

Um. That’s not dusting. That’s not really even making an effort.

When I dust my cube, I remove everything in sections. Start up high (the shelves, the posters), then work your way down. I do every inch of the desk and then use my disinfecting wipes (that smell like lilacs) to really wipe down the areas where my hands are all the time, or that specific spot where I eat my lunch. I use the compressed air to blow out my keyboard, and I have these premoistened Q-Tip thingies that clean in between the keys, and work pretty well on the phone buttons.. Then I use my new handy dandy carpet sweeper and get up all of my granola bar crumbs and anything else that was swiffered off my desk and onto the floor.

What?

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It’s supposed to be 75 degrees here tomorrow.

Yeah, right. I believe it when I se…feel it. It’s 62 right now and rainy. Where is summer?

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We have more filming this weekend. Two more days of waking up way too early, then standing around while the shots get set up, then eating cookies. But the light at the end of the tunnel (aside from the kickass video that we’re making) is that we wrap at the bar on Sunday.

And that is why Rae-rae took Monday off.

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I am attending the ballet tonight with my sister-in-law, Sara.
Look at me! Gettin’ all cultured and crap.

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I really just want to curl up with Tom, though. Something about sitting in cube for eight hours just exhausts me. And makes my tushy hurt.

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Have I told you that my buddy, CB, is preggers? Yep. And clueless, despite having a 15 year old son. When she told our co-worker finally, he squealed with glee (just like expected) and then asked, “How far along are you?!”

CB looked at me.

“Seventeen weeks, woman! You’re at seventeen weeks!”

I have her week marked every Friday on my Outlook calendar. And I send her the weekly post about her baby’s progress from the website Pregnancy Guide Online.

At fourteen weeks, I reminded her to step up her fiber since her hormones have relaxed and it may cause constipation.

I think I may have crossed a line at that point.

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What’s my biggest pet peeve right now?  Aside from the phrase "I KNOW!", complete with that high pitched whine?

When people leave their cell phones out on their desks and they are NOWHERE around when it rings. I have to listen to gansta rap, Bach, wind chimes, tropical birds cawing and the Star Spangled Banner all freakin’ day.

If it is so important that you must have your cell phone on top of your desk all day, by gawd, take it with you when you go to the kitchen or the bathroom.

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And another thing!

Turn that ringer on your desk phone down! Every time that damn thing rings, I jump a foot off my chair. You don’t need it that loud! You’re sitting RIGHT THERE! Are you hard of hearing?

I am not a mean person, so if you are hard of hearing, may I suggest a hearing aid? We have very good health insurance, and it’s probably covered. I’ll look into that for you.

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Okay. I’ve had enough fun for today. I’m outta here.
Happy weekend!

Weekend Update - Wolverine Style

Isn't my man hawt?  Not only is he directing a music video, he played the part of a bad dude.  Hence the black claws.

This weekend was exhausting.  Up at 6:30am or 7am, carting a bunch of stuff to a location (a house, then a park and then back home), standing around for an hour while the cameraman got the shot JUST SO, the filming, then rearranging, then more standing around.

But I wouldn't want to be anywhere else.

I love watching everyone bustling around, setting up lights, getting angles just so, and deciding which way the actor should turn his torso or his head.  And I love watching Todd work. 

Oh, I worked, too.

I did double duty.  Script supervisor (keeping track of the shots) and Line Producer (no idea yet).  But don't I look like I know what I'm doing?

Kayleigh worked hard, too.  She was the behind-the-scenes cameraman...er...camerawoman.

Now, of course, I can't show you any of the actual footage.  That would ruin the surprise!

Happy (belated) Memorial Day

Get it?  Red, white and blue?
I'm all about the desserts.

I know this is a late post, but let me catch you up, briefly.

Saturday, sleeping in.  Morning walk.  To breakfast.  Then to the pet store for raw food and better kibble for the kitties.  Then carpooling with Steve, Stephanie and Isabella to Tacoma for our friend Morgan's "soft opening" of his new cafe.  Go Morgan!

And Saturday night, blah.

Sunday, cleaning.  Power walk to the farmer's market with Stephanie.  Briefly lose Stephanie and freak out.  Open houses with Stephanie.  Grocery shopping.  Miles over.  Kids retreat, grown ups watch Brothers.

A note about this movie - holy crap.  What a freakin' amazing film.  And the little girl who plays Isabelle steals the show.  Highly, highly recommended.  But you only need to watch it once.  Whew.

Monday, big breakfast.  Crepes, berries and bacon.  Yum.  Then Kayleigh wanted to make cookies.

A note about Kayleigh and her cookies - this girl is not deterred.  If I have to do more than throw shit in a bowl and mix it up, I don't make the cookies. Too difficult.  Too much effort.  But Kayleigh picks out a recipe that looks yummy and without bothering to read the entire instructions, declares these are the cookies we are making!

Then we start and as we read the instructions, we see the dough needs to chill for two hours.  D'oh!  That is not a step you can skip.  I learned that during Cookie Fiasco 2006.  Okay, so we chill the dough.  Then you roll the dough in to balls, make a dent in them, bake them, the pour the melted caramels and whipping cream into the dents.

Wait.  We have to melt caramels with whipping cream?  Have you ever tried to manage melted caramels?  Pain in the tushy.

But totally worth it.

Those cookies are amazing. 

Then Lydia came over, I made homemade lasagna, and we watched some Buffys (Buffies?).

And then, some Tom cuddling.

A happy long weekend, indeed.