Almost All of My Neurotic Quirks in One Handy Post!

December is officially NOT flip flop season. Right?
I don’t care if it is an unseasonably warm day.

I should write a policy.

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My hair is getting better, but it still ain’t great. I have too much bulk on my left side and it’s too choppy on the right side and my bangs do not like being bangs. They’re trying to slide over to the side, which makes them all wonky and not at all balanced.

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There’s a new group in our cube farm. They are very serious, zen-like people. There’s a lot of bamboo and buddahs in their cubes. Very calming

However, there’s even a tinkling water feature.

And that’s going to get old really quick. Makes me have to pee.

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I was a very happy, awake person during Arctic Blast 2010 and the Thanksgiving holiday. Now I’m waking up at 6:30 (oh, okay, 7am) and I’m just tired, and all I can think about is going back to bed.

I thought the old pretty pink pills (actually, they were white) were the problem, as did my doctors. I took them at night because they were a sedative. Anti-anxiety and all. But they were too much of a sedative. I was sleepy all the time.

Now I have new pills (orange and gray capsules, not as pretty) that are stimulants, so I take them in the morning. Todd says he’s noticed a major improvement lately.

Except for this week.

I’m starting to think the pills don’t really have anything to do with my sleepiness. I just think I was not configured to wake up before 8am. Period.

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Speaking of anti-anxiety medication, a stronger dose might be in order as I had a complete freak out in kickboxing class a few weeks ago. And I haven’t been back.

I have little panic attacks in certain situations – most often in crowds. I say I don’t like crowds, but that is a total understatement. I wig out in crowds. My hands ball up into fists and started jerking in front of me, and I start sweating and breathing hard, and I just want to curl up in a ball and hide. Todd is a godsend. He’s so big, he can just stand in front of me and hold me and shield me. It helps immediately.

This is why I don’t go to festivals or parades anymore.

I’ve also been known to wig out in restaurants. If we’re being seated, and the hostess takes us to a table in the middle of the room, the hands ball up into fists and I start looking around wildly and twitching, and Todd will have to say (gawd bless him), “No, we need a table against a wall, please.”

I’ve freaked out in stores before, as well. Too many people, I can't get away from them, I can’t get to a wall to get away from everything that's touching me.

The medication has actually helped, I think. I haven’t had a problem in a while. Until kickboxing class, when Lisa had us sparring. I don’t spar. I don’t know how to spar, I don’t like to spar, I am completely opposed to doing anything of the sort. So when Lisa had us line up in front of each other, the panic started. When she told us what we were going to do, the fists went nuts, I started sweating, I started backing up and shaking my head.

Way to be subtle, there Rae-rae.

I went through with it, but it was even less than a half hearted attempt - a little punch here, a weak kick there - and I couldn’t even look at the person across from me. Even though every one of them told me what a great job I was doing. When we were done, I turned to get my water and cried.

Quietly.

Lisa hugged me and asked what the fear was. I don’t think there’s fear. Or at least, that’s not how I interpreted the feeling. It’s just a simple I Don’t Wanna. I know nothing bad will happen (I think), but I still don’t wanna. I want to curl up in a ball and shut my eyes and just breathe.

Is it an aggression thing?  It is because I was bullied in school?  Is it the same reason I despise boxing and war movies?

I’m still debating on if I want to go back. I like the aerobic aspect of the class, but I despise the martial arts aspect. And since it is a kickboxing class, it’s really not something I can escape.

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And speaking of sleepiness (remember that?  Before the kickboxing freak out?), it’s even harder to get up in the morning when Tom comes in a snuggles with me. He’ll put his little paw on top of my hand or my arm or my head. I love the pads of his paws. They’re a little “deflated” because of the burns from when he lived in a chicken coop, but they’re soft and he lets me rub them and play with them. I cannot resist the paws!

WANT TO KISS IT.
Elvis hates it when I kiss it.

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The pads of the paws are right up there with the satin edge of my blankets and the tops of Todd's feet (and you know how I hate feet).  It's a tactile thing.  It soothes me.  I do it mindlessly and almost compulsively. 

If one of my satin edge blankets is laying on the floor, I'll purposefully walk across it just to feel the satin.  I have one on my bed and I sleep with the satin part wrapped around my fingers.  When Todd is sitting near me, and we're barefoot, I'll just put my foot on top of his.  That's all I need.  Just to feel the smooth part.  And when Tom is laying beside me, all I need is to just reach out and put my finger against the pad of his paw.  Any paw.  And I'm content.

The smooth underside of my engagement ring soothes me at work.  I'll take it off and just roll it around the pad of my index finger.  I think it makes Todd nervous when I do it in front of him.

I haven't mentioned this particular quirk to my therapist.  There's so many other things to worry about.

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Like this. I think I have this disorder.

When I have sleepy days like today, and Tom’s cuddled with me that morning, all I can think about just going home and curling up with the little fluffball.

But then I also have those days where I just want to cling and curl up with my big Fluffball. Maybe that’s a different disorder?

(Side note – I had started to email Todd to ask him to photoshop his face over the kitty’s, but then I thought “I don’t need no stinkin’ man! I have MS Paint!”  It’s just as good, I think.)

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I actually thought of more quirks, but I think I should stop here.
Whew.

Who still likes me?

Weekend Update

I am happy to say that I've been off work for so long that the days have all kind of run together.

Friday was a nice, lazy day.  Todd and I ran some errands, dropped Kayleigh off at a girlfriend's, visited Steve and Steph for a few minutes, then came home and started the decorating.  We got as far as putting the fake prelit tree up and fluffing the branches, but then it was time to go back over to Steve and Steph's for some quality hanging out and a movie.  And I haven't seen Isa in many, many weeks, so seeing her always perks me up.

Isa and Steph had to go off to bed right after the movie, but I was nowhere ready to come home.  We'd been trapped in the house all week, and I was absolutely loving being somewhere else.

We chatted with Steve until about 11pm, then Todd finally put his foot down (I love it when he does that) and took us home.

Saturday was darned productive, and a bit chaotic.  Tyler hosted game in the cottage, so we had six teenagers blowing through the house around 1pm.  Todd and I left to pick up a new dresser for Kayleigh, after selling her old dresser and nightstand (we love craigslist), the got back home and snoozed on the couch until game ended and the six teenagers blew back into the house.  I immediately hid in the bedroom to get ready for dinner.

We were invited across the street to Dave and Greg's for a post turkey day dinner with some other neighbors.  And let me tell you, I thanked them PROFUSELY for the invitation.  Because the kids had decided to play Apples to Apples in the dining room.  It was loud.  From Dave and Greg's living room, we could watch everyone in our house.  Like we were here!  But not.

Whew.

We had a lovely turkey dinner (a real turkey!  With legs!) complete with stuffing, potatoes, gravy and green beans.  I also tried pickled herring (not bad) and some paste made from the quince fruit in their backyard.  It was interesting.  But yummy.

There was dessert, and coffee and chit chat by the fire.  There was also talk about past Twelfth Night productions (since Dave is an actor) so when Todd and I got home, we put in Fiddler on the Roof, which Twelfth Night had done in 2005.  It was Kayleigh's second show and she was just freakin' adorable.  I've never seen Fiddler on the Roof before - I had no idea what it was about.

This doesn't even shock Todd anymore.

Todd was also in it, as the beggar, and while I couldn't see his face very well, it was nice to just see him on stage.

Unfortunately, that put us to bed after 1am, so when I woke up this morning at 10am, after waking up and coughing a few times during the night, I was completely unhappy.  But Todd and I needed to go to Goodwill, and we had to decorate the tree and laundry was piling up and Todd has Tech Week all this week so I had to feed the kids (take out!).....ack.

As much as I would have loved to spend the day in bed, I persevered and functioned.  Well.  After napping through the Seahawks game.  I thought we could actually do it!  Except for the interceptions that Hasselback kept throwing, we were playing pretty well!

But no.

Kayleigh summed it up best when she said, "We are getting our asses handed to us on a silver platter.  With veggies on the side!"

She's funny.

Oh, ack.  And the news is on right now and we're being warned about a huge storm that's coming in.  Fantastic!  No snow in the forecast, but lots of rain and lots of wind.  And a "frosty" morning.  I'll just over prepare and expect snow.

It couldn't hurt, right?

Gobble Gobble

Happy Thanksgiving.

Our day started with the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade, then moved on into the dog show (fluffy puppies!!), and then it was dinnertime!

I have often complimented Todd on his cooking abilities, but I have to say, the man went above and beyond this year.  I joked earlier in the week about going grocery shopping, and how he didn't need to go with me because it was least I could do since he'd be doing all the cooking.

I was joking!
Kind of...

He single handedly made the garlic potatoes, the veggies, the stuffing, the gravy and he cooked the little turkey breast roast.  Okay, I cut up the lettuce for the Caesar salad and threw on some dressing.  But that was nothing.

And in return, I cleaned the kitchen while Todd and the kids played Rock Band.  I like playing Rock Band, but I get too frustrated if everyone chooses a song I've never heard of, or if, gawd forbid, I actually play an instrument.

So, I cleaned and they played.  Everyone's happy!

Oh, and we had a smidge of snow today.  Fantastic!

Arctic Blast 2010, Day II

And, I'm home again.

All Todd had to say was "It snowed again last night" and I pulled the covers back up over my head and snoozed.

Oh, but I actually had to work today.  Despite what my department decided.  One aspect of my job is to manage our traveler credit cards, which includes hounding people to reconcile and to approve.  And today was the first, and only day to approve.

So I worked from 8am to 3pm, taking a mere hour for lunch (walk to QFC for pie and wine - necessities when in an arctic blast).  Hope my boss is okay with that.

I did put up my Thanksgiving day decorations.  Just some window cling things that someone made me when I was little.

I am so looking forward to not even acting like I have to wake up early in the morning.

Arctic Blast 2010

The forecast over the weekend said it was possible we would get some snow flurries Sunday night and Monday morning.  But don't get your hopes up, they said.  Especially in the low lands, they said.

I woke up to a heavy dusting of snow yesterday morning, with even more falling.  The roads weren't too bad so I had no trouble getting to work.  And again, the rumor was that this was a fluke, so I wasn't worried about the drive home at all.

Until 3:30pm.  The snow really started coming down and Todd called to say that there were blizzard like conditions in West Seattle.  He and Kayleigh had walked down to QFC and were beaten by the wind on the way home.

So, I declared I was done for the day and wanted to get a head start on the drive home. 

It took one hour to actually see the on-ramp to the freeway (normally a 3 minute drive), and another hour to make it to the West Seattle Bridge, and then 45 minutes to creep up and over the ice covered bridge, tackling 30mph winds once I crested the top, then down the ice covered bridge, and around to Alaska, where I almost ran into two cars, one in each lane, spinning and sliding around, trying to get going.  I just sat there patiently and waited until they either slid out of the way or got some traction and moved forward.

I finally made it home and had to literally pry my fingers off the steering wheel.  The family was gathered in the living room watching the ARCTIC BLAST 2010 coverage on the news.  When we went to bed, the wind was still howling and the trees were scraping against the house and you could hear the ice hitting the windows.

And when my alarm went off at 6:30am this morning, Todd came in to tell me that the city was shut down and the street in front of our house was a solid sheet of ice.

Well, okay fine.  I'm staying home.

My department had discussed "inclement weather" procedures just a couple of weeks ago, and I was told that if things were bad enough for me to need to stay home, there probably wouldn't be any work for me to do from home, so I would need to take a vacation day or take the day unpaid. 

Luckily, I have plenty of vacation time. 

So I turned on my Out of Office on my work email ("Thanks for your email but I am stuck at home during Arctic Blast 2010"), and enjoyed my day off.  Todd, Kayleigh and I walked down to the Junction to search for some snow boots for the girl (consignment store SCORE! $16), and to get some lunch.  I really wanted to put up the Christmas decorations today, but seeing as how Turkey Day is still two days away, I made myself wait.

Since we're not supposed to get above freezing today, I'm not getting my hopes up about driving in tomorrow morning.  Anything that happened to melt will just refreeze.  I knew this winter would be a humdinger, but I didn't think it would start this early.

I can't wait to see what it's like at Christmas.

Weekend Update

What's this?  A weekend update...during the weekend?!

Maddness!!

No.  Just downtime.  Todd's at rehearsal, Kayleigh's in her room and Tyler and I are watching The Simpsons.  Since Fox is actually coming in today.

It's a quiet evening.

Friday night was pizza (not in the mood to cook) and Shadow of the Vampire.  It's a mock making of Nosferatu. It was really good.  Of course, we had to watch Nosferatu afterwards.  I've never seen it.

On Saturday, I was supposed to go to Ann's and help organize her kitchen while Todd (and Steve) were at a film shoot.  They were playing extras.  But Ann had to cancel, so I found myself with a wide open Saturday.  I should have gone and visit CB's new baby, Elijah.  He was born on November 5th and I just haven't had a chance to go by and meet him yet.  But I had a bit of an...odd week, so I've been clinging to home as much as possible.  I'll talk about that later.

So rather than go visit the new baby, I stayed home (except for a brief run to Bartell's for Swiffers and Prozac - insert joke here) and cleaned, cleaned, cleaned. Kayleigh was practicing guitar all day and Tyler had Miles over, so I got through the living room and dining room, dusting and vacuuming, but boy when I got the bedroom, I went to town. 

I pulled out the nightstands and vacuumed behind them.  I reorganized Todd's clothes that were on the bookshelf and put his shorts away which made more room for books.  I weeded out my bath basket and got rid of some stuff I haven't used in the last year.  I cleaned off and oiled the dressers and then moved into the closet and reorganized that, got rid of some boots (I know!) and straightened up my sweaters.

It was a very good day.

Todd got back around 6pm, so I finished up and cleaned up, then we made dinner and watched Lost In Translation. Kayleigh had never seen it. Afterward, was Dexter. Of course.

And then bed.

Today I woke up early (for me...9:30am) and got ready to have coffee with Stephanie. She came over and we walked down to Bakery Nouveau (in 32 degree weather) for fattening sweet breakfast treats and double shot coffee. We cruised Northwest Art and Frame and looked at all the pretty Christmas stuff, and then farmer's market, and the on to Petco for some cat food, and then home. I changed into my sweats and curled up with Todd to watch the Hawks game.

Oh gawd. Come on, Seahawks!

I..... I just have nothing to say. Just. Nothing.

Then we had soup and sandwiches for dinner, then went to the store and loaded up on Turkey Day dinner makings, then Todd left for rehearsal. And I cleaned a little more. Got the kitchen squared away, and the floor mopped, as well as the whole bathroom cleaned. I believe I am done now.
So now I'm watching cartoons, having a glass of wine, and just chillin'.

I think I have earned not doing a damn thing come Thursday and Friday.

So there.

Even if this post is dry, I still get partial credit for blogging on a Sunday night, right?

Adventures in Raechelle-land

As you may or may not know, Todd and I told Kayleigh we would redo her bedroom for her 13th birthday. No more little girl furniture. She was now a TEENAGER.

She finally got a new, full size bed last week. That’s been nice. But now, we needed to find her a desk so she could sprawl in her room (instead of the dining room table) and do her homework, and she needs a new chest of drawers.

One of the many things I love about Kayleigh is she immediately said “We’ll look on craigslist and at Goodwill!” No brand new, expensive furniture for this girl. She is happy with gently used – as long as it’s new (and cool) to her.

Gotta love that.

So I’ve been scouring craigslist in my spare time, looking for a big corner or L shaped desk. And yesterday, I found it. For $25.

I emailed the link to Kayleigh, then called her at home and told her about it. The desk doesn’t really fit the color scheme she’s going for, but she agreed that for $25, it’s better than not having a desk right now. And when we build up, and she moves into our (much bigger) room, we’ll get her a Real Desk.

I emailed the craigslister and arranged to pick it up last night. She lives in the Greenlake area, so I mentally prepared myself for a drive on a Thursday night, after being tired all day at work.

After arriving home, I was reminded that Kayleigh’s school was holding teacher conferences that evening – 5:45 – 7:45pm. Todd had rehearsal, so okay fine, I changed into comfy clothes, and off we went to the middle school, before heading up to Greenlake to get the desk. There was no time to make dinner, and it would be too late by the time we got home, so Todd said, “Why don’t you just grab dinner while you’re out?”

Woohoo!

And I immediately thought of Blue C. Kayleigh loves Blue C, and I thought since that’s in Fremont, and we’re going to Greenlake, we might as well stop by the Ballard Goodwill to see if they had a chest of drawers! Make it a girl bonding night!

The conferences were good. I met most all of Kayleigh’s teachers, and they all had nothing but positive, lovely things to say about her. Of course.

At 7:00pm, we left the school, and headed to Greenlake.

After getting turned around a bit, we found the craigslister’s house and prepared to buy a desk.

And here’s where things get fun.

The damn thing wouldn’t fit in my car. The craigslister’s husband tried all kinds of different angles, but nada. We just need one more inch! It’s funny, I didn’t think to measure the desk for the car before we left. I measured K’s room, to make sure it wouldn’t take up too much room, but didn’t even think about the car.

The desk would have fit in Ruby.
I’m just sayin’.

So the husband, a young Pacific Northwest rock climber dude complete with headlamp, tied the top of the desk to my roof rack. Fantastic.

However, I felt a bit unsure about stopping at BlueC and eating. The BlueC parking is in a garage under the building. A dark garage. Kayleigh said, “It’s a desk top! Why would someone steal a desktop!?” Oh, you’d be surprised. Granted, I’d only paid $25 for it, but if someone wanted to steal it, and they got the ropes undone, they could potentially damage the car trying to get that thing off the roof. It’s quite heavy.

So…..no BlueC. There were almost tears.

Until the craigslister reminded us that there was a BlueC in U Village which has a parking lot right in front of the restaurant and was brightly lit AND was just right on the other side of the freeway. Well, alrighty! But Goodwill was back in Ballard, in the opposite direction. It was now 7:30pm, and we were hungry, and we couldn’t fit in both places. I left it up to Kayleigh. Goodwill or BlueC. Pick one.

She picked BlueC. Good girl.

So with the desk top securely tied to my roof rack, off we went, east across the freeway, through the University District, to get our fish. And the traffic a was a bit heavy for a Thursday night. And what’s that policeman doing parked there?

And why is that road closed?

Oh. Oh no.

How could I have forgotten?! It was all over the news!

HUSKY'S GAME! During rush hour traffic on a Thursday evening.

Yes, I remembered hearing this, but had promptly forgotten about it because on Thursday evenings, I go home to West Seattle, in the opposite direction of the University area. Because who, in their right mind, would be going to U Village on Thursday evening? Sheesh.

Me and my daughter. That’s who.
For some fish.

If you, dear reader, have a daughter, you understand when I tell you that changing the plan was not an option. BlueC was on the brain and come hell or high water or a University football game, we would have fish. I was in no mood to be the bitch and say “Ain’t no way in hell we’re going there now!” because I KNEW there would be a lot of tears and some moaning and some mumbling about how I was the worst mother ever and how I didn’t care at all about her feelings or her stomach and how could I be so MEAN?!

So, merrily (really, really trying to be merry), we crept along at 5mph down 50th, around to 25th, down a back road to the Village because the main road in front of it was closed. But magically, when we got in the parking lot, it was wide open. Oodles of spaces.

We parked right outside of BlueC, got seated right away in an oversized booth, and had a quick little dinner. Even split an éclair for dessert.

We paid and were back out to the car 30 minutes later.

And apparently that’s exactly when the game let out.

We sat in the U Village parking lot for about 20 minutes. Couldn’t go right, couldn’t go left. No one was moving. People walking everywhere. Everyone was trying to get to 25th to head north, because (ah, the power of the University) the road had been altered to only go north. Twenty fifth Avenue is usually a major north/south arterial. But not tonight, folks! Everyone’s going north! Turn on 65th to get the freeway? Nope. Keep going north.

Funny though, people would drive past 65th, then turn left into the gas station, circle around, then turn right on 65th. Like they wanted to begin with. All the while, the very official cop is standing in the intersection, shaking his head “No!” when I’m mouthing, “BUT I NEED TO TURN LEFT!”

I went straight. I have to set a good example for my young, impressionable daughter.

In an odd twist of personality, I was doing very well at being calm and even pleasant about the whole experience. We had good sushi in our tummies, Bob Schneider on the iPod and the butt warmers on high. We talked with Steph on the Bluetooth for a minute. It was all good.

I told Kayleigh, this must be what it feels like when you have to evacuate. Everyone is going the same way, across four lanes of traffic and driving on the wrong side of the road. It like I was in England.

We continued north, past 85th, at 10mph. If you remember, anything north of 85th is Canada to me. There are no sidewalks, and very few street lights. But I wasn’t panicked just yet. I knew if I kept heading north, I would hit Northgate Way, another major arterial going east/west, so I’d just take that over to 99 to head home. Because there was no way we were getting on the freeway. We were north of Husky Stadium, so in order to get home on the freeway, we’d have to double back and go south, right past Husky Stadium. All those cars that were leaving were all taking left turns off 25th. They were headed east. To the freeway.

No way.

So north we go, keep going north, we’re very far north (Kayleigh is now whining, “I just want to go to bed….”) and wala! I see a major intersection! There’s lights and many cars going east and west! We’re saved!

No we’re not.

That’s Lake City Way. I get shot off 25th onto Lake City Way which aims even farther north. And east.

For reference, we live south. And west.

(I see now on my handy dandy map, that if I’d just continued to go north a little farther, I would have hit Northgate way. Possibly, with some luck.)

So, we backtrack, get on 85th, head east toward Aurora, and are finally on the right track to get home.

And it’s 9:30pm now.

But traffic on Aurora is light (thank gawd) and we’re home in 15 minutes.

And even though Kayleigh’s bedtime is 9:30pm, I let her stay up and check her email and Facebook.

Cause see?
I AM a good mom.

And mom always says not to panic. “It’s an ADVENTURE!”

Key for Map:
A/G = home
B = Kayleigh’s school
C = craigslister’s house
D = Husky Stadium / U Village
E = Lake City Way
F = Aurora Ave

The Flow Chart of My Life

Found here

My Long Weekend Update

I splurged and took Friday off, since we had Thursday off for Veteran’s Day. And it was a good thing, too, because I spent all day Thursday cleaning Kayleigh’s room with her because her new full size bed arrived bright and early so we had to make room for that. Then there was dinner and drinks with Jamie that evening at the Celtic Swell, so yes, a day off was much needed.

Tom and I slept in.

Tangent: Can I just say that this is one of the best ways to wake up in the morning (in addition to smoochies from Todd, of course)? It doesn’t normally start off so cuddly. Usually, there’s kneading with his claws on my stomach or my head, depending on how I’m laying, and that’s followed by very loud purring and a wet nose on my face. But eventually, he falls asleep so the kneading stops and he ends up just kind of slides into some groove, be it my arm, my neck, my legs or on my feet.

This is why it’s so hard for me to get up in the mornings.

But I finally did get up (at 11am) to go shop. I went to Goodwill and Value Village to find some non-jean pants. Which I didn’t. I will have to soon, though. The only reason I can wear jeans to work is because I don’t work in the clinic anymore. I’m offsite. But in December, I will have to help out with my department, so I will be onsite every afternoon for two weeks. So, no jeans.

Not good.

Anyway, back to our story.

Friday night, I completely spaced about a girlie party I was invited to, and instead Todd and I (along with the kids and Lydia) watched Temple Grandin. Excellent movie. Excellent. Even the kids loved it. Claire Danes is just beyond incredible.

And then there was teenage girl drama (which I LIVE FOR), and then I finally got to go to bed.

On Saturday morning, Ron arrived to do family pictures for our Christmas card. And let me just say, if you do get one of our Christmas cards, I am well aware that I look like a 45 year old boring, homely mom with a bad haircut and extra 20lbs. Please know this hairstyle (and extra 20lbs) is a temporary setback and the pictures will be better next year. I promise.

Todd and the kids look fantastic. Of course.

After the hell of picture time (picture time with NO ALCOHOL, thankyouverymuch) Todd and I watched a few episodes of Dexter Season 3 while the kids were out in the cottage playing games. The weather was completely icky, so it was a perfect day to curl up on the couch and veg out with a serial killer.

Another tangent? I freakin’ love this show. There aren’t a lot of shows that I can say I freakin’ love, but I freakin’ love this show. Yes, Debra annoys me because she’s so crass and vulgar, but even she’s growing on me. I told Todd, I simply love the characters. Every season there’s a character you know you shouldn’t like. You know they’re going to turn out to be bad, bad people, but you can’t help it. They’re likable. Until they try to kill Dexter. This is one of the perks of Seattle in the winter. Lots of indoor time to catch up on your shows. We should be caught up on all of Dexter by the spring.

Anyway.

At about 7:30pm we got off our butts and dressed up to go to our friend Michael’s Rock Star birthday party. I do love an excuse to wear my black and red wig. A few people thought it was real! (Hmm….maybe I’ll just get this style in a few different colors and wear them until this fugly haircut grows out….) Todd wore the "Chelle Shocked” t-shirt and badge he made for my Rock Star birthday party, so he was my bodyguard.

The party was filled with entertainment, from pole dancing to belly dancing to live music. Michael and Chris’ parties do not disappoint.

But we were home by 11:30pm, because were are responsible parents.

And on Sunday, Todd and I drove up to Bellingham to visit Omi and watch the Seahawks finally play some good football! Nancy and Bob came over, we had an early supper, then it was already time to head back home. In the dark. At 4pm.

I heart Seattle.

Todd went to rehearsal that evening, I curled up on the couch and attempted to watch Sunday night cartoons, but I fell asleep through The Simpsons and The Cleveland Show, then Family Guy wouldn’t come in.

Oh. Did I tell you we got rid of our cable? Yep. That’s why Family Guy wouldn’t come in. We’re kickin’ it old skool now. We got an antenna. And that’s it.

Since you can watch most any show or movie online or through Netflix Instant queue on the Wii, it seemed ridiculous to pay over $100 for cable TV. Yes, I miss HGTV and a couple of other channels, but really? We’re not losing any sleep. Except when Fox won’t come in. I just want to watch Family Guy!

At least we still get football games. That’s the biggie.

Oh, and we cut off our land line, too. Again, ridiculous when every one of us has a cell phone. Maybe mine will ring more often now….

So we’re getting down to basics. Yes, we still have wireless internet, because HELLO? Four of us in the house with laptops, streaming movies, videos and playing games. Getting rid of wireless would be insane. But we’re cutting back where we can.

Look at me! Being responsible.

Yuck.

Dreaming About Blogging

Last night I dreamt that I stopped to get coffee and breakfast before work. I didn’t want to spend a lot of money – just grab something cheap, like a muffin or croissant. But this place only had big breakfasts, with the exception of a cinnamon roll. I debated for a good 10 minutes then finally said, “Well, I guess I’ll just take the cinnamon roll. I can have a salad for lunch…” The woman started chatting as she was getting the roll, and said something to the effect of “Oh, these have an expiration date of 2099, so it should still be fresh..”

Wha…? 2099?

Uh. I don’t think so.

I told her, you know what? I cannot possibly eat that cinnamon roll now. It must have a shit load of preservatives in it, and I just can’t, in good conscience, put that in my body. Thanks, but no thanks.

Then I left.

And I was leaving, I thought, I should blog about this. My readers will be happy to know that I made a good decision.

Then I dreamt that Will Smith and I were playing frisbee.

Yeah, no idea.

Anniversary Weekend Update

Our anniversary weekend started on Friday with pizza and the movie The Losers.

While the movie was no 4 star hit, it was very entertaining. And I just love Jeffrey Dean Morgan (even though I can never remember his name). I still think of him as Denny on Grey’s Anatomy. But, ooh, he was in P.S. I Love You and played an Irish dude. Even better.

Where was I?

Oh yes! My anniversary weekend!

So, The Losers was good.

After sleeping in Saturday, Todd and I did some laundry and really just twiddled our thumbs until it was time to take Kayleigh to her overnight and check into our hotel. We stayed at the Pan Pacific downtown, and after dropping the word “anniversary” a couple of times, were upgraded to a corner room on the 9th floor. We had a lovely view of the Space Needle and Lake Union.

We scoped out the room for a while, then napped (because that’s what you do when you’re in a posh hotel room with no children around at 5pm), then got beautified and headed to dinner at Il Bistro.

It took us a few tries to actually find the restaurant, but once there, it was just lovely. We sat in a cozy corner, with a candle and rose petals on the table. The waiter was wonderful, the food was delicious, and the wine was fantastic.

I will say, however, it was very loud. For being the most romantic restaurant in Seattle, it was a bit of a reverberating cave. The two person tables had the chairs right next to each other, as opposed to across the table from each other, and I’m guessing that’s because they’re already aware of this problem,.

But other than though, it was great.

We caught a taxi back to the hotel, where we immediately popped open the pink champagne that the Junior Hickmans gave us for our wedding (thank you!).

Appropriate, no?

And there was other stuff, and then the cutting of the second edition wedding cake! Yum. And then there was more stuff, and then me drooling on Todd’s chest and then sleepy time.

And then there was coughing at 3am (or was it 2am, with the time change?) which lead to getting up which led to a sneezing fit, and then more coughing, and then an attempt to go back to sleep, but the mood was squashed. I think Todd and I finally officially woke up at 7:30am.

Shoot me.
We ordered room service and read our complimentary Seattle Times, while watching the NFL pregame show. When it finally came time to shower and pack up, my mood tanked and I became a whiney little six year old.

“I don’t WANNA go back home. I don’t WANNA do laundry. I wanna sleep in this fluffy bed! PLEASE LET ME SLEEP IN THIS BIG FLUFFY BED!”

Todd was having none of it.

So, off went (35 minutes before our check out time! I could have had 35 more minutes!), back to our house and our kitties and our laundry and our dirty floor and messy kitchen.

But when we walked in, we saw vacuum marks on the carpet. And the dishwasher was running. Wha..? What’s going on?! Were we robbed? Or….cleaned?

Nope. Tyler woke up feeling domestic, so he vacuumed, did some laundry, and ran the dishwasher (and even put the dishes away when it was done!)

I tell ya, that made coming home a lot easier.

The rest of the afternoon was spent lounging around in our jammies, snoozing and watching the Seahawks get their ass kicked. Even worse than last week! What the hell?!

I’m still being supportive, guys Or, I’m trying to be. Really, I am. But come on, you gotta give a win! Or at least score some freakin’ points!

So, Sunday, not so great.

But the wonderful weekend ended with beef goop and Sunday night cartoons, so we wrapped up on a good note.

And then this week I work a mere three days! I took Friday off, since we get Veteran’s Day off and I somehow have an abundance of vacation time.

What am I doing, you ask?

No idea. Maybe reading. Maybe shopping. Maybe cleaning. Maybe a pedicure. I don’t know. I’m just going to enjoy my day away from the office. And then I’ll come back for a week, and then I’ll work another mere three days, and then we’re at Thanksgiving!

WHICH MEANS DECORATING!

Flashback from Hell

There's a lot of candy in my office.  Obviously.  I've contributed to the pile, as well.  The pixie sticks were trapped at the bottom of the candy bowl on Halloween, so we had a ton left over.  As well as Smarties, Starburst and Candy Money.  Which are just really big Smarties.

Anywho, one of my coworkers came by to grab something, and she, Mr. Cranky Non-decorating Coworker and I all started talking about candy from our youth.  This woman loved Black Cows, the chocolate version of Slo Poke.  I don't think I ever had one, but after hearing her talk about them ("We just suck and suck on 'em before dinner, then put them down in the wrapper until after dinner.  Girl, those things last a week!") I looked them up. 

After she left, Mr. Cranky Non-decorating Coworker and I started reminiscing and then I had that WHACK of a memory, and asked him "Have we talked about those Pepto Bismol pink mint Christmas candies?"  He said, "Oh yes.  Weren't they Brach's?"

YES.  My mother used to set out this bowl of pink, round disks that looked all soft and chewy, but when you put them in your mouth, they were minty chalk.  And quite gross.

Sorry, mom.

So, on my tour of vintage candy, I found the pink mints.  Actually, they're called Brach's Wintergreen lozenges.

What the frick? Were they billed as mints back then?  Or did mom just want to prevent sore throats?

Either way, just looking at them gives me the willies....

A Couple of Random Thoughts

We have a woman in our cube farm who screams when she sneezes. I mean SCREAMS. I told Mr. Cranky Non-Decorating Coworker that one of these days she was really going to be in trouble and no one would help her – we’d all just yell “Bless you!”

Also, Steph says that your sneeze is indicative of your orgasms.
Just FYI.

**********

I’ve gotten many flattering and wonderful compliments on my new haircut. Thank you guys so much.  However, I’m not so sold on it. My hair is too thick for this many layers and it just feels like a helmet.

Which made me think of this as I was leaving for work this morning:

This is how I think I look.
But with brown hair instead of a green lime.  Same shape, though.

**********

There are certain bands or musicians that represent certain periods of my life. When I hear The Cardigans, I think of meeting Todd. I think of the break up when I hear John Mayer. Willie Nelson makes me homesick. And the Waifs make me think of summer. There are so many more I could name….

And now I have a new band to add to this list. Mumford and Sons will forever make me think of Autumn. They are an English band, but have this dark, driving Scottish beat (complete with banjo, accordion and fiddle) . Their lyrics are soulful and their harmonies remind me of a gospel choir. It’s a full, warm, enveloping sound.

I finally listened to the whole album today, and I have to say, there isn’t a track on there I don’t love.

They are an awesome band. And it should be noted that Tyler turned both me and Todd onto them. Go Tyler.

**********

Is it too early to decorate for Christmas?
I WANNA DECORATE FOR CHRISTMAS!

Just How Out Of Shape Am I?

From SalsaIsGood.com

My shoulders and upper arms are sore from dancing yesterday.

Yes. I am THAT out of shape.

Just to clarify, I use my arms regularly. Really. But I guess they’re not used to having pressure against them, while pointed upward. HK, my dance partner, is a very strong lead, so when she wants me to turn, by golly, I turn. And when you have a solid frame, the pressure against your arms is pretty substantial.

Not a dancer? Can’t fathom how partner dancing can make your arms sore?

Okay, I give you homework!

Find a partner. Preferably someone taller and a bit bigger than you.
Stand, facing each other. Have your partner raise their left arm. You raise your left arm and put the fingers of your hand flat against the palm of their hand. Act like you’re going to walk to the left of your partner. Have them exert pressure, with their left arm, against your left hand.

Feel that? That’s leading and following. When you haven’t done that in 10 years, an hour of it will make you sore.

It’s a good kind of sore, though.

Rethinking Me

I answered yet another ad. No, not for a vocalist (you know where that gets me), but for a dance partner.

My company has a community news group so people can post things for sale, or items wanted, or really anything. Last week there was a posting from a woman looking for a practice partner for salsa dancing.

And I thought, why not?

I miss dancing. I haven’t been salsa dancing in ages. And while I’m not a good leader, I’m a helluva follower, and this particular gal needed someone to practice her lead with.

We met today at lunch and danced for about an hour. She’s learning tough steps in her class and was impressed that I could follow her so easily. It reminded me how to use my body – keeping a frame, not locking my arms, spotting when I’m turning, keeping my torso straight and only turning from the waist. It all came rushing back after 10 years.

And as an added bonus, I sweated my ass off.

So we’ve agreed to meet up once or maybe twice a week to practice. Add this to my kickboxing classes and I should hit my goal weight of 98lbs in no time!

Kidding, kidding…

What’s funny is, it occurred to me that I don't really seem to have a lot of fear when it comes to emailing strangers. That’s how I met Steve, and Ms. Traveler (my Ballard walking buddy and in some ways, my mentor) and Todd. I’ve met some of the greatest people by blindly (but safely) taking a chance and reaching out.

It’s times like this when I take a step back and I surprise myself. The 13 year old girl in me would be paralyzed with fear at the thought of reaching out and being vulnerable. She was so insecure and afraid and fragile.

But now, the 35 year old in me says, what the hell? What’s the worst that can happen? I would never use the words “secure”, “fearless” or “strong” to describe myself, but there are moments when that’s exactly what I am.

I kind of like this person I’ve become.

Spooky Weekend Update

There was much spookiness this weekend, as there should be at the end of October.

Friday night, the family gathered around the tube for Nightmare on Elm Street. The kids had never seen it. It’s a classic! And it’s Johnny Depp’s first movie! It was just as bad as we remembered, but it was a nice flashback.

After that, we watched Cat’s Eye, a collection of Stephen King short films.

Oh, first we started to watch Thankskilling, but when it opened with a shirtless female pilgrim running from a demonic turkey who used the F word, we decided it wasn’t just a cheesy horror film – it was a waste of electricity to even view it on the TV.

Then we watched Cat’s Eye.

And then everyone retired. Because it was late.

Saturday, up around 9am and domestic until it was time for our neighbors’ Halloween party at 4pm. Todd was a pirate, I was a rock star. As I always am. In my head.

The party was oodles of fun (so many cute kiddies!), and we excused ourselves around 6:30pm to go home and prepare for our own little Halloween gathering. Steve, Stephanie and Aunt Mardie came over, and our neighbors Joe and Carrie joined us a while later, for more noshing, drinking and games.

And then, ack. Midnight and bed.

Sunday was a lazy day of sleeping late and football. I love days like that. I don’t love days when the Seahawks lose 3 to 33, but I stayed with them til the end, despite my frustration. I don’t know how long I can keep this up, though.

And last night was potato soup (homemade, thankyouverymuch. Or, Todd thanks you very much as he made it) and more horror TV (28 Days Later, which is actually a very good horror movie, and the premiere of The Walking Dead on AMC, which is a new series based on the comic book) while answering the door for trick-r-treaters.

Oddly enough, I only had one semi-nightmare this weekend. And I can’t even really remember it now. I know it was about a zombie and I remember thinking, in my dream, this is just because I’ve watched scary movies all weekend.

And here we are at Monday, where it’s 50 degrees and pissing down rain like you would not believe. I made the mistake of wearing my gaucho pants and ballet slippers today and, after my walk to salsa lunch, my shoes are still wet and my feet are pruned. I cannot wait to take a hot bubble bath and read my book tonight.

I love Autumn.

Happy Halloween Weekend!

Nobody really dressed up at work today. So I’m glad I didn’t go all out with face paint and an elaborate costume. I’m in a simple A-line black skirt that comes below my knees, heels, a white blouse and a cardigan. And pearls.

I am a housewife. Because that’s what I want to be when I grow up.

To celebrate a full weekend of Halloween, we will be watching a scary movie tonight for pizza/movie night (yes we’re having pizza because I don’t feel like cooking. Ha. TODD doesn’t feel like cooking. And I don’t feel like cleaning up). Then tomorrow we’re going to our neighbor’s annual Halloween party and Sunday will be trick-r-treaters and maybe another scary movie.

And then, holy crap, we’re into November and the holidays and decorating AND CHRISTMAS!! AND VACATION TIME!!

I’m giddy.
Can’t you tell?

Sears is Cool

Sears has revamped (or rezombed) their website just in time for Halloween.

Very nice, marketing team.

Very nice.

It Appears That Sir Pukesalot May Be Malicious

I was awakened bright and early this morning (6:30 to be exact) by Kayleigh’s alarm clock. She had forgotten to turn it off before she left for her overnight yesterday.

As soon as opened the bedroom door to go turn it off, Tom blew in like he does every morning. It was too much effort to shoo him out, so I just turned off Kayleigh’s radio, fed the kitties, and crawled back in bed with Todd. Tom walked around for a while, trying to find the perfect way to lay on me, but he’s not used to Todd being there. Todd didn’t want to cuddle with him, so Tom kept walking around, trying to get comfortable.

After a few minutes of this, Tom got fed up, jumped off the bed and left the room. Well, okay fine, be that way. There was plenty of room for him to lay on my side, but he just couldn’t work it with Todd there.

A few minutes later, we heard Tom’s tag jingle as he walked back in the bedroom. I figured he was going to try this cuddle thing again.

Wrong.

He walked all the way around to my side of the bed, crouched on the floor and puked.

Really? Right there? I believe his point was made. He was not happy that Todd was in that bed. Morning time is TOM TIME.

So I got up, went and got the paper towels, cleaned up the mess, walked back in the kitchen to throw the paper towels away, patted Tom on the head and said “You can still cuddle with us” then crawled back in bed and snuggled up with Todd.

Not 30 seconds later, I heard Tom at it again, this time at the foot of the bed.

You’re kidding, right? Like I didn’t get the point the first time? It’s a damn good thing you’re cute, Tom.

Back out to the kitchen to get the paper towels, back to clean up the mess and give Tom a lecture, and back into bed. This time, leaving the paper towels on my dresser, so I wouldn’t have to get up again.

Well, by this time I was wide awake, as was Todd. So we made the most of our early day and walked down to Easy Street for breakfast.

I could be angry with Tom, but he had such a rough start in life that I can’t bring myself to scold him. I’m just choosing to put a positive spin on this and say, “Hey! I was up at 6:30am on a Saturday! And I’m not even angry about it!”

Gotta find the silver lining, right?

I'm Sick

{cough}

So I finally got around to posting the updated photos of the cottage on Mighty Tidy. Since there's nothing of interest to read here, why don't you pop over there?

{achoo!}

Weekend Update

The Downings had a lovely weekend up here in the Pacific Northwest.

Friday night is now just Friday Movie Night. No pizza. Our bank accounts and our waists can no longer handle pizza every Friday night. So instead, it was rice and beans and cornbread. And the movie was TRON. Which I choose, and which I didn’t really care for, but thought I needed to see because TRON Legacy is coming out and I know Todd wants to see that one.

Aren’t I a good wife?

On Saturday, I headed down to Covington for Nichole’s birthday lunch and surprise party. I was very proud of Nichole for choosing a teppanyaki style Japanese restaurant. She doesn’t even like Japanese food! But she wanted to do something different, so all of us sat around a big Japanese griddle and watched a chef in a tall hat whip up our lunch. I treated myself to the scallops and shrimp. And a mai tai. Yum. And Nichole drank a whole blue drink, all by herself! She’s getting’ crazy in her old age.

Actually, as I write this, I may need to take mom and dad somewhere like this when (yes, WHEN) they come visit.  I think dad has been there; I vaguely remember a story of him putting chop sticks in his mouth so he'd look like a walrus...hmm.  I think they'd like the food - they have steak and chicken.

Where was I?
Oh.  I got home around 5:30pm from the party and after resting up from the long drive, headed off to the grocery store with Todd.

Remember when I was a party animal and Saturday night meant dancing and drinking and playing pool and flirting with strangers?

Yeah. Those days are over.

Now I grocery shop, and go to bed at 10pm. I say, woohoo.

Sunday began with a head massage by Tom.

What? She likes this. Really.

Did I mention Tom has claws? He never breaks the skin, but boy howdy, it’ll wake you up.

The Seahawks kicked off at 10am, so for the next few hours, it was cuddle time on the couch with Todd and Tom, with coffee and breakfast and cheering my team as they finally KICKED SOME ASS! Good job, ‘Hawks!

Steve arrived for the fourth quarter, so there was some social time, as well.

Then, Todd and I got cleaned up and walked down to a local coffee shop, where we heard that Stephanie was grading papers. After saying hi, Todd and I left her to work and walked on down to Metropolitan Market. We oogled the kitchen wares, then got smoothies and chilled in the café, then perused the market to compare prices and see if we wanted to maybe grocery shop there. They didn’t seem that much more expensive than Safeway, but the experience would definitely be more fulfilling. Metropolitan Market is just a beautiful store. With lots of foofy cheeses.

After getting some wine and a loaf of bread for dinner, we walked back home, admiring the houses in our neighborhood and critiquing the dormers. I’m a big dormer admirer now. We’ll probably end up with two dormers in our master suite, facing west over the front of the house, so I’m trying to get an idea of what I like and what I don’t. I don’t like shed dormers – the flat kind. I like pointy dormers. Which has me learning about roof pitches, too.

Actually, I may be obsessing about roof pitches. So much so, that when driving to work today, I followed a pickup truck with a very tall bed cover, and said to myself “That cover has quite a pitch!”

Anywho.

Todd and I walked home (and passed Marty Riemer and his family – RIEMER!) then cleaned the house then sat down to homemade beef stew (FANTASTIC) and Back to the Future. Because I hadn’t seen it in ages, and that movie takes very little concentration. Sometimes I like movies that I don’t really have to commit to.

And after the movie, bedtime. But Hitch was on (one of my very favorite movies) so we watched that as we were winding down. It was a nice end to the weekend.

And this week is already jam packed!!

Two different contractors are coming out to evaluate our project, plus there’s kickboxing, plus counseling, plus a walk and din din with Val. I can’t believe it’s almost November!

Happy Anniversary Mom & Dad!

Today is my parents’ 37th anniversary.

Or is it 38th? I think they’re just happy that I remember the day. And how can I forget? October 13th. They were actually married on a Friday. In their blue jeans, in front of a Justice of the Peace. Then they had a helluva reception.

You know what I love about my parents? They still love each other so much. Yes, they bicker and yes, I have to listen to them gripe about the other one on the phone occasionally, but when you’re with them, you see them still kiss goodnight before they go to bed and say “I love you”. I see dad strut around in his boxer shorts and slippers just to make mom laugh until she chokes. I see mom pet my dad’s head when he’s tired or doesn’t feel well.

They still visibly love each other.

But they’re also still very strong, independent people. Mom takes off for her sister’s for a night and dad doesn’t go. He doesn’t like sleeping in strange houses. They love being together, but they’re also okay being apart.

My parents are a shining example of what I want my marriage to be like. They’ve always been great role models for how it works – yes, you fight and you maybe don’t like some of the things the other one does, but all that stuff is piddly. It’s the support that matters. Mom supporting dad when he was changing jobs every year or having a hard time making ends meet, and dad supporting mom when she had back surgery, neck surgery and lung surgery. It’s the love and support. And they show it to each other every single day.

Happy anniversary to my two favorite people ever.  Thank you for everything.

1979.  I think. Daddy loved my pool.

Mom could never get the laundry folded.

At the Armadillo, kikkerdancing. After Dad lost all of his hair.

Just an average day for ma and pa.

 

1986 maybe?  Smoochies.  And sideburns.

Reason 46 Why I Hate Texas

There was a box of Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal in the break room today. I guess someone was offering it up to the rest of the office, but had a hard time even looking at the box.

Because ya know what I think of every time I see Cinnamon Toast Crunch?

We were living in Angleton and were very new to Texas and Texas bugs. Clueless, you could say even. My mom used to buy Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Fruit Loops and Cheerios. Those were the staple cereals. Maybe Raisin Brand every now and then if it was on sale.

Anyway, I loved the Cinnamon Toast Crunch. What kid wouldn’t?! Butt loads of sugar at 8 in the morning? FANTASTIC! My love of sugary cereals, however, was soon squashed.

I got up one morning, made a mad dash for the pantry and poured myself a big ol’ bowl of Cinnamon Toast Crunch. And what else came out of the box?

Ants. Thousands and thousands and thousands of ants.
Sugar ants or fire ants – it don’t matter.

ANTS. EVERYWHERE.

I pretty sure I screamed like a girl and put the fear of gawd into whichever parent was nearby. I remember my eyes being so wide they hurt. Why is the cereal squirming?!

Soon after that horrifying incident, mom discovered those plastic cereal bins, with the flip lid. We never, ever had boxes of cereal in our pantry again. Never. Everything was put into plastic bins. Even today, at Pisswilly Ranch. No cereal boxes. None.

We have cereal boxes in our house.
But I don’t eat cereal anymore so I’m safe.

3 Day Weekend Update

The weekend actually started Thursday, with a sever bout of the I-don’t-wannas. I laid in bed until 8am, knowing full well I needed to get up and go to work, but that wasn’t motivation enough. Coffee wasn’t enough, it being my Friday wasn’t enough. I had no gumption.

Not good. Not good at all.

I finally made it to work, but after five hours, took a bit of sick time and went back home, and back to bed. Where I slept until 5pm, and I woke up only because we had dinner plans with Todd’s stepmom.

After dinner, back home, back to bed.

Thankfully, I took Friday off to go to the Seattle Home Show. That was motivation to get up Friday morning, but not as early as I had hoped. At least I got out of bed.

After stopping at Bakery Nouveau for coffee and a twice baked croissant (because you do what you gotta do to be happy sometimes….despite the calories) we headed to Qwest Field to check out contractors, tilers, roofers, designers, awesome hot tubs, little cottages, and everything else your heart desires when it comes to building a master suite.

This improved my mood considerably.

After spending five hours at the Home Show, Todd and I came back home to nap and then host Hans and Ron for the evening. We did the traditional Friday pizza and movie night thing. Very low key.

Saturday, Todd and I spent the day cleaning because 1) the house really needed it and 2) Kim-n-Tim (sans Milo) were coming over for dinner. Tim surveyed the front yard for landscaping ideas (our yard is in desperate need of maintenance) then Todd made his cheesy pasta and fruity salad. We finished off with homemade pumpkin pie (Tim is also an awesome baker) and relaxing chatter until about 10pm.

And Sunday was a mindless-oh-my-gawd-we-have-nothing-to-do-how-can-this-be?! day. Todd made breakfast, then we threw some laundry in. Then Miles came over, then Lydia came over, then Todd and I left. Because that’s too many teenagers.

We toodled around Westwood Village, bought a new clock, then drove down to Alki to get coffee and sit on the beach and people watch. It was odd to not have anything we had to do, to just sit in one spot and be. It made me antsy.

After finishing our coffee (and watching a seagull poop from the sky, right next to us) we decided we should head back.

And upon arriving at home, we found our three neighbors beside us, outside, putting up their Halloween decorations while all their kids ran around between the yards. It was a wonderful, autumn day in our neighborhood. Eventually, after chatting with everyone, Todd and I decided we needed to keep up and put out our decorations. Our neighbor’s daughter came over and helped put spider webs on the bushes, and Todd put the orange lights around the holly bush (very dangerous).

And then the sun started to set and it got chilly, so one by one, everyone went inside to start their dinners. It’s afternoons like that I feel completely happy and at peace.

Todd whipped up some chicken goop (chicken over rice with mushroom gravy, broccoli and mushrooms) and after cleaning the kitchen, we curled up on the bed to organize all of handouts from the Home Show. I cleared out my Holy-Crap-I’m-Actually-Getting-Married wedding binder and it is now our Holy-Crap-We’re-Doing-Construction binder. We have many tabs.  General contractors, architects, framers, roofers, plumbers, electricians, carpentry, fixtures and flooring. There’s also a section for Pertinent Articles and Concepts/Pics. I may also need a spreadsheet for contact info. We’ll see.

And this week's calendar is already jam packed. Business meetings, kickboxing classes, Bob Schneider show, and birthday parties.

Whew! Who needs a nap?

I need a nap.
I always need a nap.

Gotta talk to my therapist about that…..

What Do You Buy When You Have TOO Much Money?

Why, a throne of course. 
With music.

Only $12,000.

But what a conversation piece!

I Knew I Was On To Something!

From CNN:

Sleep More, Lose Weight, Study Says

Ah ha!!

So if I can get 10 hours of sleep every night, then I should hit my goal weight of 98lbs in no time!!

Kidding.  Kind of.

I think the actual logic behind it is it's probably just let time you're awake to eat. 
Right?

Anniversaries and Other Crap

The only pic I have of us with our new key.

October 1st is becoming a very important day in my life.

One year ago today, Todd and I moved into our new house, and I became a homeowner. My name is on a lot of paperwork with very big numbers. I can’t think about it too much. It makes me nauseous.

And two years ago today, I started my job as a buyer.

**********

TMI? No such thing.

What the hell is up with skin tags? I’ve never had a problem with these things, but in the last year, they’re popping up everywhere! Especially where my bra has rubbed me for the past 24 years (shut up, I was an early bloomer).

Oh.
Wait.

In my googling, I see that they are “most common in people who are overweight.”

Fantastic.

ANNNNYwaaaay……

**********

There is a distinct change in the air. Autumn has definitely arrived. The sun seems a little lower all the time, the air is a little crisper. The leaves are changing.

And the spiders. MY GAWD the spiders.

[Here's where I would insert the pictures of the spiders, if I had actually gotten off my lazy (loaded word) ass and taken them.  Just image big, bulbous, hairy ones.  Everywhere.]

**********

Thank you all for your inspirational and encouraging comments as I spiral into my midlife crisis. It’s so heartwarming to know that 1) I have regular readers and 2) those regular readers actually like me enough to take the time to write some kind words for me. You guys rawk.

And you will be happy to know that I am attending my first NAPO meeting next week with my buddy Trixie (not her real name…I hope).

What is NAPO, you ask?

The National Association of Professional Organizers.

Go, me.

Random Thoughts. And A Birthday!

The latest self discovery, in addition to being bored, is that I’m not doing anything fun. Which is why I’m always so tired. So my homework for the next two weeks is to do fun things.

Which begs the question, what do you, dear reader, consider fun? Somehow, I don’t think you’ll be listing cleaning or organizing (except for Trixie). That stuff is still fun to me. But I’m told it expends energy and doesn’t bring any positive energy in.

What do people do to bring in positive energy?

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Being that it’s Kayleigh’s birthday today (Happy 13th birthday, Kayleigh!) we have dinner with Doug and Ann tonight, BlueC and birthday guitar night (with cake) on Saturday, in addition to the wine tasting I’m attending at Ann’s on Saturday. And then there’s the football game on Sunday, for which I will make a dutch baby and maybe some bacon (Ha! Todd will make the bacon).

So I have fun things planned for the next few days.

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When I sang “Happy Birthday” to Kayleigh this morning, 10 minutes after rolling out of bed creating a very loose, drunken version of the song (complete with silly off keys), my beautiful, intelligent, smart ass daughter replied:

“Are you just too tired to enunciate?”

Well, sheesh. Pop my mama balloon, why doncha?

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I need a haircut. My hair is tickling my neck and is completely out of shape. This will not do.  I could use a manicure, too, while I’m at it.....and a massage.  That would be fun.

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Looking ahead to this winter, King5 says that, because of that bitch La Nina, this may be our wettest, snowiest winter in 55 years. Fantastic.

What shall we call this snowstorm? Snowfiasco 2010? Gotta get ready….

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Regardless of the fun I am about to experience tonight, I still just want to go home and take a nap.  Sad, huh?

I Guess It Makes Sense to a Pregnant Woman

I made a huge vat of potato soup last night, so we had oodles of leftovers. I texted CB to see if she liked potato soup and would she like some for lunch today. She replied with “Sounds yummy! I’ll bring something to share, like Pop Tarts or something.”

I laughed. She’s so funny. And she is so lovin’ her Pop Tarts right now.

So we get to work today and we’re chatting and I asked what she brought to share. With a look of duh-I-already-told-you-what-I-was-bringing, she said “Pop Tarts. Strawberry for you because I know you like strawberry, and cherry for me. Yum!”

Uh….

I emailed Todd and told him and he replied with, “You said I could be the bad guy, so here goes: Pop Tarts are SWEETS.” I argued with him for a minute. “But “sweets” are in the bakery aisle! Pop Tarts aren’t in the bakery aisle! They’re a breakfast food! There’s no chocolate or cheesecake or whipped cream! They don’t count!”

Then he sent me the “nutritional” information for Pop Tarts.

One tart has 200 calories (45 from fat), 2g (8%) saturated fat, 170mg (7%) sodium, 37g (12%) carbs, and 17g sugar. Double that if you eat both in the package.

Oh, okay fine!

Admitting defeat, I walked down to the little bakery and bought four rolls. Two for me, two for CB. Because she probably shouldn’t be eating the Pop Tarts either. Pregnant or not.

I definitely deserve a bott…er….glass of wine tonight.

Planning and Projects and Spreadsheets, Oh My!

We’ve got projects!

The most recent is my and Todd’s first wedding anniversary! What to do, what to do? We’re thinking a night in a swanky hotel downtown and maybe, if we can swing it, a show at Teatro ZinZanni.

This is one of those things I must do in my life. Like Cirque du Soleil. It’s a splurge, but what better time than our anniversary?!

I’ve started the spreadsheet compare the hotels and their amenities, complete with Water view? Soaking tub? Hot tub? Room service? and Late check out? Because if you’re going spend a wad of money on a local hotel room for one night, by gawd, it better have a hot tub.

And the friend who made our wedding cake is going to make us another little one just for our anniversary. Isn’t that sweet?

Next on the agenda is another organizing project at Ann and Doug’s place. I love going out there and helping them. They make margaritas and guacamole and it’s a just a party. While organizing! This time, it’s the kitchen. When we cleaned out the garage a few months ago, we moved a ton of wedding gifts and other packed kitchen gadgets into their kitchen. Which made the garage look amazing, but the kitchen a disaster.

Funny how that happens.

And then the big daddy project! The project to top all projects in Rae-rae’s life…..

Adding a master suite upstairs.

I KNOW!

I’ve probably mentioned it before, but the main floor of our house (living, dining, kitchen, bathroom and two bedrooms) is 940 square feet. We share a bathroom with Kayleigh, which isn’t so bad, but she’s hitting those teenage years where she wants to shower in the morning and do other girly stuff in there so we’re getting a bit cramped.

We knew this when we bought the house. During the inspection, Todd and I were already talking about adding onto the back or building up. It was inevitable. And it was worth the money and effort, just to be able to get into one of the best neighborhoods for under $500,000. And we do love our neighborhood. And our neighbors (Hi Carrie Ann!)

So, we have now started the planning. We had the first contractor come out and give us a very loose, rough estimate, and more importantly, to tell us if it was even possible.

It is!

The spreadsheet has been started, pictures are being saved, and we’ve subscribed to Architectural Digest. I’m such an adult.

I even found this fantastic website called Homestyler. You can design your house and add furniture and bathtubs and windows and paint the walls and then see it in 3D. AMAZING! And it even gives the dimensions because I’m an idiot and when I drew my ideal master suite and put everything in it, it was totally not to scale and it ended up being 40 feet by 35 feet. Which is bigger than the house itself.

We’ll get a few more contractors out to chat about the vision, just to get a feel for who might best work for us, then hopefully get a formal bid and proposal in the spring. We hope to start construction around June or July and be finished by Thanksgiving.

I figure, if the project of buying while selling while planning a wedding didn’t break me, what’s a little construction on the house?

Remind me of that come next August….

Let the obsession begin!

Welcome Back, Autumn!

Photo credit: West Seattle Blog

I know the majority of you out there are not cold, rainy weather people. You often give me crap for my love of the cold weather. And yet you continue to be my friend. Funny.

Autumn has arrived! I’ve decided I like “autumn” better than “fall”. Makes me feel…European.

The leaves are changing, the sun is setting earlier and the holidays are just around the corner. I’m already planning the Christmas cards! And the Christmas cocktail party! And my time off! Yay!

(Boy, that red leaf really clashes with the pink background, huh?  Ick.)

Oh So PC

So, I believe I told you that the windows above my cube are frosted because our building backs up to a parking lot and transients were known to hang out back there and look in the windows.

Well, when it’s overcast, like today, the frosting just adds to the darkness in my cube.  I look up to the window with an ever increasing expectation of seeing sunshine.  Or something.  Anything.  But all I see is frost.

After looking up for the umpteenth time, I rolled my chair back to the half wall I share with Mr. Cranky Non-Decorating Co-worker and said, “I wonder if they could make the windows one way?  So we could see out, but the bums couldn’t see in?”

Mr. Cranky Non-Decorating Co-worker laughed, and laughed and then choked a little, and then laughed some more.  I didn’t get it.  It was a simple question.

When he could finally breathe again, he said, while still chuckling, “Raechelle..…bums?…Um…..I think they’re called “homeless individuals””. 

Oh, very well, Mr. PC. 

Homeless individuals.

Or why don’t we take it one step farther and call them “residentially challenged individuals”?

The point is, I want to be able to see out of my little window.

However…….if there are residentially challenged individuals out there, would that really be a better view?  Some random person staring in at me as I type?

Maybe I’ll see if facilities can paint a blue sky with little wispy clouds.  Or the tips of palm trees. 

Something.  Anything.

Maybe not a residentially challenged individual’s face, though. 

No, that would be no good.

Extremely Late Weekend Update. And Happy Birthday Daddy!

Our weekend was much fun. It started with movie night on Friday, and new people, Landon, gaffer and do it all extraordinaire, and his girlfriend, Dallas. They, along with Dan and Trish, came over to watch Howard Hughes’ “Hell’s Angels”, a film from 1930.

It was mockable, but for it’s time, it has amazing camerawork. So I’m told by the movie dudes.

Dan and Trish had to leave rather early, but Dallas and Landon hung out until about 1:30am. It was inspiring to talk movies, childhoods and music with them. New people are good for that.

Saturday morning, Todd, Tyler and I got up and headed to Raff’s for a garden party. “Party” meaning please work on our yard and we’ll feed you and there’s beer. I was in charge of weeding the front of the house, which faces east and has a shit load of rose bushes. So I was baking and being attacked by thorns for most of the day. Not an ideal way to spend a Saturday, but I was muy productive and I met some new people and, really, I had a good time. Look at me, branching out!

Get it? Branching? Gardening?

Ha!

After the garden torture, Todd and went home (Tyler left hours before) to clean up and loaf on the couch. Todd whipped up some dinner, then the kids retired to their separate rooms so Todd and I decided to watch an episode or two of Dexter.

Holy crap. We ended up watching the last four episodes of season one and I was just in freakin’ awe. I can’t imagine how they’re going to top this storyline. Fantastic.

Also, Saturday was my daddy’s 68th birthday.

I started to write a post about him back in April when the West Virginia mine exploded and collapsed. He was a coal miner when we lived in West Virginia, although he never went down into the mines; he was a surface miner. But mom still worried about him every morning when he left for work. So, when a mine disaster happens, I can’t help but get a little nostalgic.

So, I started to a post to honor Dad. But I couldn’t get it done within any reasonable amount of time, and then I thought, “I’ll post it for his birthday!” and well, you see how well that worked, and so now I’m just hoping to get it posted by Father’s Day, 2011. That’s a reasonable goal, right?

Okay, maybe I’ll shoot for Christmas.

Anyway.

Sunday was domestic football day. We made a big breakfast of eggs, sausage, biscuits and fried apples (thankyouverymuch), then threw in some laundry, cleaned the kitchen, vacuumed and got ready for Steve and Steph to come over for the game.

I started off optimistic, but that only lasted until halftime. The ‘Hawks just weren’t up to snuff. They had, what, three turnovers? Ridiculous. I kept screaming for them to put Charlie in, but no one was listening. Hmph.

Steph had to leave right after the game, but Steve stuck around to watch the beginning of the Manning bowl. I love to watch Peyton play. He’s a great leader.

Eli? Not so much. Poor guy.

So, of course, the Colts won.

And then, the Sunday night wind down. Getting ready for the new week, finishing up the laundry, trying to get to bed early. It just depresses me.

Kermit, my co-worker, was talking about our group moving into a new building when it finally gets built, probably about 8 years down the road.

Ah gawd. Eight years?!

I told him I may not be here in eight years. I’m pretty much just working day to day, waiting for Todd to tell me to stop because he’s sold a TV series or a movie. I come home from work everyday and look at him expectedly, waiting for those beautiful words “You can quit your job!” but so far, nada.

But I am not deterred!

I have faith in my honey! It’s gonna happen!
I just know it!

Good juju! Send the good juju!

Another Fantastic Spelling

Roshalle

In the poor girl's defense, she merely asked for my email address and not the spelling of my name when she called.  My email is "rmarsh" so she was going in pretty blind.

I kind of like it.....