I don't have any exciting plans. It's like i turn into a 70 year old woman on this holiday and go to bed at my normal time with out even so much as a glass of grape juice to clink "New Year" with.

I have fond memories of being small and celebrating with my family or my best friends family. The night always involved games, puzzles and good food. But now that the novelty of staying up past midnight has worn off, i don't see the big excitement about it. Plus I'm working tomorrow to cover for a snow day i took last week.

You have a good celebration!

White Christmases SUCK

If I ever see snow again it'll be too soon! 2 weeks of the stuff and i'm done FOREVER. Things barely melt but just enough to cause slush in the parking lot, preventing our car from going anywhere! The chains on the car are not staying on and now both sides have flown off on separate occasions. The burning rubber smell when M tried to drive off wasn't a hint that something was wrong?! Or the flying slosh out the front left tire? I'll be shocked if i have tires left after today.

Bah-humbug!

Have i mentioned i have not been out of the house since Saturday? And Saturday was only to walk 30 min both ways to the grocery store. I'm so very very disenchanted with snow.

update: my m.i.l. is a smart woman and i like her very much. I called to say we wouldn't be making it over Christmas dinner. She volunteered her husband to go pick us up at the end of our street since their car has studded tires. I was overjoyed!! We had a wonderful dinner, gift opening and played the board game Imagine If. Good times! We're still stuck in the parking lot though and the sidewalks are un-walkable since they plowed a few days ago making the sidewalk buried under 4 feet of snow. I'm buying snow boots as soon as i can get out.

Cabin Fever

I am actually thankful to be at work today. That snow that was rumored, came true in a really big way! I snowed a couple of inches on Sunday and blew crazy high winds. We stayed home on Monday because we did not have tire chains and we did not feel safe going out. That made 3 consecutive days of being at home, all day, all 24 hours of those days, with 2 crazy dogs, 1 tv and a really dirty kitchen. Good news, we finally got our tree decorated now that we've had it for a week.

We went shopping Friday thinking we'd purchased enough food for the weekend, apparently we can't count how many times we eat in a day. By Sunday my husband went back out between the morning snow and the evening snow to get more groceries. Then he went out again yesterday afternoon after some of the snow had melted {at least it was super sunny if not bitter cold} to get tire chains so we could adventure out today. Good news, we only need the chains to get out of the apartment parking lot.

Bad news, it's supposed to snow with a mix of freezing rain starting any where between tonight and 10am on Wednesday and not end till Wed. night. Depending on your source we get sun on Thurs and Snow again on Friday followed by a big storm on Saturday/Sunday.

OMG, i'm so not prepared for this. We have to go to the store again tonight just to prep for the week. It's been a long time since i've planned a weeks worth of groceries. Do you realize how dirty the kitchen gets when you're cooking at home all the time?

Most likely i'll be home tomorrow because I don't want to be out in that and my husband can easily take the public transportation into work if it's required. If i take public transportation it will probably take me 2 - 2.5 hours one way because with good weather and everything running on time its estimated to take 1.5 hrs. I'm hoping i can take PTO or make up the time, we really can't take the money hit so close to Christmas. Ugh, that's the other thing, this snow could completely blow my chances of shopping this weekend! Don't procrastinate on these things people, it'll get you in trouble.

I admire people that put up with this for several months out of the year. You are better people then me. Hope everyone is safe, warm and well stocked in food.

Rumor

We're supposed to have a snowstorm this weekend. To the grocery store we go tonight! I'm hoping it happens. Being snowed in this weekend doing Christmas decorating and crafts sounds perfect.

We got our tree Saturday but then promptly got into a little tiff about how to rearrange the living room furniture. By the time everything was in a new place we were tired and left the tree bare. It's been smelling awesome and looking big in our living room all week. It's going to look great with lights.

Magical Apartment

The thought of moving to this amazing apartment but highly expensive apartment has been heavy in my mind lately. The fairy thoughts that some how by moving in to this apartment I will become a better person, suddenly our marriage will be better, our lives in general excellent.

A few of the day dreams:
- The apartment will stay clean. By somehow having a small bedroom would make us want to hang up our clothes every time we change them. The fact that the kitchen would have less counter space i'd do the dishes more often.

- In this clean apartment i would have the stamina to get up early every morning {before my husband} and do my 30 minutes of pilates in our new cozy den. Followed by 30 minutes of cardio in the gym on the property.

- We'd be better with money because we'd have to be to make the rent. We would have to pay attention to our spending because if we didn't we'd find our selves with over drafts and no electricity {then how could i do pilates?}.

Reality check - moving will make NONE of those things happen. The only thing that will change that is our attitudes about responsibilities and discipline to follow through on things that are not fun. Boo, it will not be handed to me magically.

Considering all of that I'm plotting on how those three things, which are the top three bane of my existence, can happen right where we're currently living.

***
Why does my husband think it's fun to call me and tell me I have a flat tire after we just spent $350 to fix other problems on his car. Thankfully he was at a gas station and able to fill it with air oh but didn't want to be bothered with using his tire gauge to check it's the right pressure. He always tells me these types of stories like they're supposed to be funny little things about life. They're not funny, it causes me a little bit of anxiety at the fact that a) there is probably a hole in the tire and b) that he might have over inflated which if there isn't a whole and it was just low from sitting around for 3 weeks, that he could have a blow out.

Lord just get him home safely and we'll take my car to the movies for the date. We'll ignore the fact that my car needs some minor repairs too.

November Challenge Wrap Up

NaBloPoMo: Missed a few days and contributed very few meaningful posts. I think after that first day of missing i lost the thrill of the challenge to keep a perfect record.

Art Every Day Month: I did not by any means fulfill my desire to post at least one picture/project a day. I do regret not putting more effort into this monthly project.

National Reading Novel Month: I only posted about the book once. Frankly, i think the second section of the book was rather boring. I only have a few chapters left to finish. Over all i'm not exactly sure what makes this book so amazing except for shock value of the unashamed honest portrayal of a mans obsession with little girls.

I'm not sure what i did in November but it obviously wasn't contributing a great amount of time to all the challenges i signed up for.

bargains!

I got all this for $150 dollars today - thankfully thanksgiving sales are all weekend:

- 2 bras {buy 1 get 1 free, that's awesome}
- 2 shirts {one is that popular kelly green, never owned something in this color before!}
- 2 pairs of shoes {casual nice brown, drk purple slip ons}
- 1 pair of jeans {i can only seem to find jeans that fit at Lane Bryant}
- 1 sweat shirt {zip up, bright teal, love it!}
- scarf & hat set {light pink and super soft}

***
This evening i worked on my sister's birth announcements. Hand writing the addresses, it's going well. Recent pictures were taken of Noel in a white dress and bonnet, super adorable, each one gets a 4x6. Tomorrow is the big day to start printing the announcements. My printer supposedly* prints 4x6 prints just fine and the paper is only a little bigger at 4.5x6.25 - i'm hoping it takes it ok.

*i've never actually tried it.

Black Friday

I'm at work. Boo.

Thought about going and doing some clothes shopping. I need a few essential items. Not really sure i want to do that with my evening but i have to and i may as well buy it all on sale.

- Can i just ask, what makes under wire in a bra snap so frequently? Drives me crazy!
- Why do dogs eat underwear? A weeks worth in fact. {yeah it was right before laundry day}
- Why are jeans going back to the high waist? Really that can't be comfortable for anyone. I wasn't real excited about seeing girls undies or butt cracks with the short waist jeans either but maybe if girls bought the right size jeans and length of shirts we'd be better off.

Did anyone find good deals or stay home?

Thanksgiving

Have a wonderful day of relaxation, food, family, friends and good times!

Tropic Thunder Review

Yup, it was boy humor. It wasn't horrible but not hysterical either. I actually enjoyed the 2 minor characters performances better than the 3 huge stars. However, Robert Downey Jr's performance was good.

Tonight it's Wall-e which I already reviewed as Great. Originally saw it on the 4th of July. Not sure i'm going to watch all of it tonight. Need to get up at 5am tomorrow for a press check. At least i can get to work with out any traffic.

Tropic Thunder

Ok, i'm giving the movie a try. My husband says it's hilarious but i have a feeling it's a guy hilarious and not a universal hilarious.

I'll let you know.

Apartment Living

We're looking to move in a couple of months. Some of the apartment managers thing we're looking a little early considering we can't move in until April 1st. However, we see it as a way figure out now where we want to move and not panic at the last minute and just pick something that might not work.

We're currently looking at our options for places downtown. The first building we looked at was too small, 750 sq ft. i just can't image us and the dogs living in that size of space. We went today to a building along the south water front on the edge of downtown, it's beautiful! It makes you feel sophisticated just walking in. I'm completely sold on the building. Of course i'm curious to find out about their other building opening in April that's in the heart of downtown.

Never thought i'd live downtown. I was pretty sure my husband would never agree to it because he originally said he wouldn't want to. Fast forward a few years and add in a new job that's down there... well, he now loves it and it was his idea to move there.

I'm questioning if we can afford it and this weekend i'm starting plans to figure that out. As i've previously stated money stresses me out so i'm taking it a little bit slow with going through the bills and not freaking out, it is what it is. My husband is all "I think we can do this" - of course he does, Mr. Optimistic-But-Has-No-Plan. So, what i'm trying to say is, i'm willing to take responsibility to figure out how to make this boat float downtown because i think it would be exciting to live down there. Of course if we can't eat, a pretty place to live means squat....

Keep ya'll updated as i figure things out.

It's the little things that make me happy

Finally Gmail has themes for it's online email accounts. Best part? I like them! One account is ninja themed and another is an office desktop. Yes, I have more than 1 account. I have, let me count...
1
2
3
4
.... Yup 4 and i use them all but only 2 frequently.

Hope you have a good Friday night. I plan on getting The Oliver Garden for dinner, yum.

Thanksgiving?

I'm so excited about Christmas that i've basically written off Thanksgiving this year. I know it is sad but honestly i don't feel very festive for Thanksgiving. We're going over to my husband's, uncle's, wife's sister's house - home of friends loosly related to us through marriage. I'm flattered that they wanted to host Thanksgiving but since moving this has been the hardest holiday for me to enjoy away from Dallas. Mostly because the food is not my family's food and food is one of the main things about the holiday. Which reminds me that i need to find out what i'm responsible for bringing.

Have any good T-day plans?

What have you done?

Time for a meme - copy and bold the things you've done. I picked this up from A Girl & Her Journal.

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelos David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain {this is easy when you live in portland}
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie {home movies}
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching {not on a boat but you can from shore}
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Read an entire book in one day

Holiday Stamps 1964

A little inspiration for my Christmas cards. When we were at the coast this weekend we did a little antique shopping. Found a stash of old letters with these great holiday themed stamps. I have the wood type letters of JOY that i'm going to combine with a block print based on one of the stamps. I'm thinking of doing the holly. I've never done a two color print so i'm thinking i'll do two carvings, one for the leaves and another for the berries.

Going to the art store friday to pick up blocks and paper. There is also this gel that can be mixed with the ink to make it transparent, the more added the more transparent. I'm wanting to pick up a little to experiment with.

Months ago i picked up some velvet felt powder that i thought about using on my cards... maybe the holly will be dusted with snow... i'll have to try it.

Sunday Make Up

Happy Birthday Love!

{it was really sunday but we came home from the coast with no internet but it wasn't our fault this time, comcast thinks the router box is bad or their crazy and didn't really know what the problem was... so, i didn't get to post again.}

His top gift is a winter coat. We were talking just this weekend about him needing a new one. With out even knowing it, his parents got him one for his birthday. Great timing!

His favorite gift is probably Gears of War 2. My brother had been tonting him about how great a game it is. Finally, they can play it together... as soon as the internet's back up.

Who's Right?

I'm right. It's 9:51am and we're still here. We haven't even packed, let alone cleaned out the car to put the dog crates in. Yeah, it looks like it's going to be a really late start to our weekend plans.

Have a good weekend!

World Tour

Finally, tonight, i get to buy Guitar Hero World Tour - which includes a guitar, drums, and microphone. I don't really care about the mic but everything else sounds great. I've heard great reviews from a few friends who have it.

But this is not what i'll be doing all weekend. Actually, i might not even get to play till Sunday night. We're going to the coast this weekend. Our goal is to leave the house by 9a, yeah, lol we'll see how well that goes. I'm actually really looking forward to it because we haven't been out to Newport in about 4 months. It'll be nice to visit with Grandma {in-law} too. We have plans to take her to see Madagascar 2 in the theater {it's been a while since she's been in the theater}.

I'm also hoping to squeeze in a little antique shopping as well. There are a number of place to go look.

My plan is to blog before we go but i'm not stressing about it since i already missed a day.

Zine Pages

I participate in a group zine every 3 months. The premise of the zine is to have a theme, produce as many pages as players {for example 12 people sign up, i need to create 12 identical pages}. Then i mail the pages to one designated woman who binds them together {with help} and then mails them back to the players. So in the end i have a book of 12 pages, 1 page designed by each person playing. It's a lot of fun and i've been doing it for 4 years... wow, can't believe it's been four years! I missed the first book but i've been in the other 13 books {14 total, there has been fluctuation on how many were made per year}.

I always have fun making the pages. The 14th edition had the theme of Positive/Negative. I had help from my husband with the idea. I had the idea of using film negative but then i couldn't figure out a positive {course now i thought of an actual photo of the other sides negative would have worked but i'm just as excited about this concept}. Then he suggested the use of x-rays, i knew i married him for a reason.

A note on construction:
- Printed the x-ray images {after a little color correction} on transparency paper
- Masking tape to tape the corners
- Office file labels for the titles
- Hand stamped each letter {figured out late but for the positive side i had the bright idea of stamping "positive" all down the sticker sheet before adhering it to the page, i got a lot clearer looking labels for the positive side}

No internets

Boo - i'm now out of the running for a NaBloPoMo prize because i didn't get to post yesterday. Turns out we got home and had not internet, something about them wanting money to supply the service, who ever heard of such a thing? Anyway, it left me out for a day. I'm still here though.

Two morals of the story - no three:
1) pay your bills on time
2) post from work if you have time {only do this option if you know you won't get in trouble}
3) keep going even if you'll only get your only little finish line badge

Something to blog about

On the way home tonight my husband was telling me about this last minute appointment at the vet clinic.

V.: What was wrong with the lab?
M.: Oh an ADR
V.: What's that? {i'm thinking something bad}
M.: You may not believe me but this is the technical veterinarian term, Ain't Doin' Right.
V.: {laughing} You can look that up in a vet medical dictionary and that's what you'll find?
M.: Yep
V.: {laughs & laughs}
M.: There you go, something to blog about.

Yes, indeed.

NaNoReMo - Lolita

This post contains spoilers for the book Lolita.

These are just my personal thoughts on the book. This weekend it's kept my attention to the point that i only have 90 pages left to finish it. I think for posts later on this month i'll have to skim sections for things to write about.

Lolita Chpt 1-8 of Section One

1- intro to the girl's name Lolita, which really isn't even her name but a nick name of the main character Humbert.

2 - Bio info on Humbert - is this a hint of foreshadowing that his father sets up his perfume business in America? Humbert uses fate a lot in the book to blame/praise any situation. The main character would probably see it as fate that his father would set up in America for him to later find his Lolita.

3-5 - Covers him meeting a girl named Annabel both are age 12 (13?). This meeting starts the whole obsession for little girls going. It seems because Humbert didn't get to conquer Annabel, he then gets it stuck in his head that that type & age of girl is the ideal girl. He coins the term Nymphet, which according to Humbert is not really a little girl but a girl that is possessed by a demon who is wiser so there for older and negates the fact that the girl is about 12. I believe this new definition is just a way for Humbert to rationalize his perverted desires for young girls.

6- Has a good experience with a young prostitute only to get bold and try to find a young one that is really just a black mail scheme.

Humbert shows escalation in his addiction:
- watches them in the park
- still battles with morality issues
- tries to justify his desire by presenting arguments that it's legal in other countries
- looks for satisfaction in an older girl to help quench his desire for a younger one but doesn't work
- only thing stopping him by end of chp 6 is the legality issue

7 - Because of what happened chp 6 Humbert chooses to get married! I think that's a ridiculous idea. Why do men with addition think it's a good idea to get married? The woman they marry is not the one they really want. It just makes them both miserable.

8- Of course, Humbert seems to think moving to America will further help solve his problem. When really moving to another city rarely, if ever, fixes problems because usually the problem is the person, not the place.

The other issue that comes up is the reveal that his wife is having an affair and is leaving him for the other guy. Humbert is furious at this and my first impression was to be angry at Humbert because he's proving him self to be a pervert and he married her as a desperate act. Didn't realize he was so attached to her. I'd think that in the long run, he'd prefer not to have wife in tow. However, i got to think about it, can a pervert not feel angry at a betrayal? Unless i missed it {correct me if i did} but Hum was faithful in actions but not necessarily thought. Regardless i thought the Hum strong reaction to the breakup was odd because to me it had been portrayed as a loveless situation.

Let me know if you have any thoughts.

Dinner

Went out to dinner with a large group of friends that get together about every other month. Some are old co-workers, others are new people at my previous job and then there are the misc. significant others. Lots of laughing which was so nice for a change {it's normal to laugh with this group, i'm just saying i haven't been doing much laughing in general}.

I'm really full and kinda tired now. My husband is out side instructing the dogs to "go to the grass" over and over and over again. They're not listening.

Today has been one lazy day which means the kitchen is still dirty. I am however way head of the reading schedule for Lolita/NaNoReMo. I've made notes on the book, of course after about chapter 10 the notes drop off as i got involved with the plot but mentally noted things.

Tomorrow i hope to post at least a slightly thoughtful post about Lolita. We'll see how it goes considering i think i'm spending the afternoon at the in-laws.

Blogging Harry Potter - Sorcerer's Stone

Watched the first HP tonight and a little ways into it i thought it would be fun to blog my thoughts to some things and any dialog i really liked. It got long and doubt it's entertaining but there you have it. I wish blogger offered the "continue reading" option to cut your posts.

***
Hogwarts Express Train number: 5972

Introduction of Ron & Hermione

Ron: "wicked"

Herm: "you know you've got dirt on your noes, just there."

Every time the characters go to the school its by some new transportation. First years, it's by boat across the lake.

Houses:
Hufflepuff {they never get any notice}
Raveclaw {barely a little notice than Hufflepuff}
Gryffendore
Slytherin

Intro Malfoy the nemesis

Ron: "mental that one, i'm tellin' ya." Ron about Hermione

Oooh first ever scar pain for Harry when he noticed Prof. Snape staring at him. Prof. Snape is also talking to Prof. Quirrell at the same time.

Harry convinces the sorting hat not to put him in Slytherin which will haunt him for the next 2 movies.

Dumbledore: "Let the feast begin" - what you later learn in the books is that house elf's make the food in the kitchen below the dinning hall.

"Nearly headless, how can you be nearly headless."
"Like this" [sr. nick pulls his head off his shoulders]

Intro moving stair cases and moving paintings - both have various degrees of importance from one movie to the next.

Oh, they changed the fat lady painting between the first and the fourth movie.

Ms. McGonagall {who is named after some obscure Scottish poem/tale} - transforms from a cat to her human form. "Then perhaps a map. I trust you don't need one to find your seats"

Prof. Snape: "There will be no foolish wand waving or silly incantations in this class... for those select few you posses the predispositions, i can teach you how to bewitch the mind and ensnare the sense, bottle fame... and even put a stopper in death."

I enjoy the typography and design of the Daily Prophet.

Madam Hooch is introduced but never to be seen again after this movie. She gives flying instructions: place a hand over your broom and firmly say "Up."

Longbottom has an incident with his broom, of course but when his rememberable gets lost it gives the Malfoy and Harry and chance to have their first conflict. It ends well for Harry when he's seen catching the little thing and given the Seeker position on the Quidditch team.

Malfoy says "fat *ss"! I didn't realize there was cussing in the first one.

Oooh Oliver Wood, love his accent!

Fred & George Weasely, funniest twins. "We make sure you don't get bludgeoned to death".

Filch's cat Mrs. Norris - creepy red eyes.

Ron: "That's it, we're done for" - always one for the dramatic.

Herm: "I'm going to bed before either of you come up with another crazy idea to get us killed. Or worse, expelled".
Ron: "She needs to sort out her priorities"

Prof. Quirrell : "TRrrrOoooLL! Troll in the dungeon!" The trio's first challenge to over come. Save Hermione and defeat the troll.

Harry: "Yuck, troll boogies."

Prof. McGonagall: "5 points for each of you for sheer dumb luck!" - which carries them through about half of the things they do.

Ron: "That's not just a broom stick. That's a Nimbus 2000."

Hagrid "Who told you about fluffy?"
Herm: "that thing has a name?!"
Hagrid: "Of course he's got a name."

Hagird: "I should not have said that."

Keyword: Nicholas Flamel

Christmas! Lots of snow that i'm thankful we don't get. Ghosts are caroling. Ron & Harry are playing Wizards chess, a foreshadowing. Ron's brother is in Romania who's working with Dragons there, also a foreshadowing.

Ron: "I think we've been a bad influence on her."

Harry gets his invisibility cloak - i'm still not sure who really gave it to him.

More plot... the mirror that gives neither "knowledge or truth" but shows Harry his most deep desire which is to have his parents back. Again, something that will be brought up to be used in future books. It's amazing all the things J.K. Rowlings linked between one book to the next.

Ta-Da! They figure out what Fluffy is guarding.

Mr.Filch: "At one time detention was you hanging by your thumbs in the dungeons. Oh, i miss the old days."

Herm: "As long as Dumbledore is around you can't be touched" - well, wouldn't you know, he went out of town.

Gees this movie is long...

Ron: "you're a little scary sometimes, brilliant but scary"

Harry, taking it upon himself to protect the object and herm and ron. Don't you think it's odd that a bunch of old, knowledgeable wizards would put spells and blocks up to protect the stone and then first years can come in and do basic magic to get by? Hm, anyone find that convenient? It is nice that each challenge does cater to one of the threes abilities, so with out one of them, all of them couldn't make it.

The larger than life chess set has to be the best one of the movie.

Voldemort: "Ha, bravery! Your parents had it too."

Harry's hands can some how burn Pro. Quirrell's body. What, really, how? Apparently love did it. Harry's mom died trying to save him and gave Harry and special protection of love. This theme is also continued on through the movies.

Things never to be seen again: The awarding of house cup, points taken and given, and those pointy hats they wear at the end.

Cat Fight

I went to a casual social thing tonight. I had a little anxiety about it because i'd only know about 2 people and i don't do small talk to strangers well. Turns out a girl that i have legitimate reason to hate was there and doing little things to help the hostess out. She was nice to me! She asks me if i want something to drink and instead of saying f-off, i request a beer. She even comes over and checks on me 2 times through out the couple hours i was there.

She was NICE and i did the socially acceptable thing and put on my smiley mask and was pleasant towards her. I refuse to like her. I will not be won over by her niceness!

p.s. don't drink beer with out food it goes right to the head and causes wild, dramatic thoughts and scenarios to run through it.

Time

Here is the catch with NaBloPoMo, it actually takes time to write interesting blog posts. I seem to forget this, i imagine that every day i'll be able to whip up something interesting but quickly.

Needless to say, it's been a day when i get home and my mind is numb and i give into the urge to watch a movie with out doing anything productive. Tonight's selection is Get Smart with Steve Carell and Ann Hathaway. We saw it in the theater and laughed and laughed! I recommend it if you need something light hearted.

Good note, i mailed off my zine pages tonight. I'll have a scanned version tomorrow.

Banner

Ah, that's much better! The prior banner was ok but something about the type size and aged background was not working. This one is much better.

You can see previous banners on my flickr account at the request of Marillaane. Tag: blogbanner. Except i didn't post the bad one that was up for a few days you only get to see the good ones.

***
There is a lot of buzz today about the election. Finally got my ballot filled out last night and dropping it off after work {closes at 8pm here}.

Harry Potter backwards

My hubs and i watch a lot of movies. We're currently on a Harry Potter kick, we don't own it so we've been renting them but in reverse order. It's most interesting to watch all the kids getting younger. It's pretty impressive how much they change between movie 4 and 5. Currently watching Chamber of Secrets, i don't really like this one, as i recall it leaves a lot of the book out and in general i don't like Prof. Lockheart.

Also, i just realized it on this watch through, that Harry uses magic every summer and always gets out of the rule "no underage magic out of school". For that matter there is a lot of special treatment for those 3 on all the school rules. Guess it wouldn't be as good if they were not helped along all the time.

Ok, that's it, i've got to get back to the zine pages.

Day 2

Day 2 and i'm already lacking things to report about. I've been working on my zine pages - they're turning out excellent. Post them when i'm finished.

Here's a photo for AEDM. A few months ago my husband and i went out for dinner and i ordered pomegranate lemonade. It was pretty good. Even though it's old i only just got to edit it.

A Good Start

November is off to a good start.

I've picked up my copy of Lolita and i'll be starting it this weekend. The reading syllabus won't be available until Monday but i figure i can't go wrong reading the first few chapters.

Started on that mission statement. It's going a little slow. I let my self be distracted by looking for a new place to live - even though we won't be moving until the end of March. There is this perfect little house near my work but i don't think it'll be available when we're ready. Maybe something exactly like it will be available.

For AEDM I've uploaded a little video of a tree that lives outside our apartment building. It had AWESOME color this fall. This is straight from the camera {cannon A630} the thing is, the quality is crap and i'm not really sure what to do about it. Probably access to a video editor that could compress it correctly for the web would probably be good. If anyone has any thoughts, let me know!

Top Things for this Weekend

1) Vote - in OR it's all done via mail or drop boxes for your ballots. There are several measures to be voted on that i have no idea about so, i'm going to sit down and open my voter guide to see what i can make of it. On a side note, i kinda wonder if Obama doesn't win how much foul play will be called.

2) Create my pages for the latest collaborative zine project i'm in. The theme is Positive - Negative {i totally know what i'm doing for Negative - Positive hmmm....}. This is due in the book creator's hand by the 7th.

3) Write a first draft of a Mission Statement for the art group that i'm in. It's needed for Tuesday's meeting. Yeah, i procrastinated a little.

4) Figure out what i still need for the Scavenger collaborative project. That needs to be post marked the 14th but i'd really like to ship it in time to be in their hands by the 14th.

These are all things that i feel like HAVE to be done this weekend. The list i made last week, yeah, i was right, i got 2 things done {moved the table, sorted through a small pile of mail} and then proceeded to be kicked in the butt by headaches and pity-parties. Neither of which I'm allowing this weekend.

***
I don't really celebrate Halloween. I don't like being scared or grossed out so it's not really the best holiday in my opinion. I don't pass out candy because we have dogs that bark when people come to the door and no backyard to banish them to - they'd get really annoying very quickly. I do like pumpkins, pumpkin carving, leaves changing colors... i'm thinking if the store still has them today i'm going to pick up a small assortments of gourds for my work desk. When i have children i'll take them trick-or-treating but until then, i'm staying home with the front porch light out.

Doctors

Here's a random thought for you. I went to a new doctor today for my early {yea, health!}. It occured to me while i was sitting in my gown and sheet waiting for the docotor, that this is a very odd way to meet someone for the first time. She was nice but i don't expect to see her next year. Well, maybe i should be more hopeful but i doubt it. The reason is that either my insurance will change and she won't be covered or she'll leave the practice. Every year w/o fail, one of these 2 things happen. In my 7 years of doing this i've never seen the same doctor twice. Thankfully i'm healthy and there isn't anything to monitor, other wise that might get annoying.


Was that TMI?

Almost November

which means it's almost time for 2 3 annual challenges!

National Blog Posting Month {nablopomo.org}
Posting everyday for the whole 30 days of November.

&

National Novel Reading Month {NaNoReMo} hosted by Defective Yeti
That's right read a whole novel and discuss it for the month of November. The novel picking is running a touch late, he's still taking recommendations and votes. {almost forgot about this one}

And the novel winner is: Lolita - i'll be buying a copy since the library is completely out

&

Art Every Day Month hosted by Leah at CreativeEveryday.com
The rules on this one is very relaxed. You can do something every day, week, one big project for the month...possibilities abound {go read the page she describes it better}.

I plan on using this challenge to get some of my photos posted. Yes, i hear you, i did sign up months ago for her Creative Every Day in 2008 challenge, no, no i haven't been very good about keeping up with it but i'm ok with that. November is going to be about posting my photos, photos of my finished projects, and at the very least one line about something inspiring from the day. I AM GOING TO DO THIS! I readily admit, i struggle with the leap between good idea/goal to actually sticking with the discipline needed to finish something. Last year i posted all 30 days so i'm not so worried about that but my goal is a little more lofty in the creative department.

Let me know if you've signed up for any or all and i'll make it a point to come visit and leave a comment to cheer you on because I bet you love comments just as much as I love comments. {I don't struggle with reading other people's blogs}

Friday

I have high hopes for this weekend.

First i hope it's sunny and i think it's supposed to be.

Then i'll go to Pilates on saturday morning. Arrive home feeling refreshed.

Then i'll rearrange the furniture just a little {husband did a lot last week i'm just tweaking}.

Then i'll tackle the big big stack of mail that needs to be sorted, shredded, delt with & filed.

Then i'll try to clean my office {at least some big stuff out of the way for table space}

Then i'll settle in for the Hulk movie while i edit trip pictures.

Then i'll go to church on Sunday and gloriously smile at all my haircut comments {is that not the best part of getting a haircut? well, besides the freedom of short hair}.

Then i'll work on my sister's birth announcements before they have to be turned into Christmas cards or happy 1st birthday.

Then i'll brainstorm for my zine project {it's a collaboration project i'm part of and pgs due nov. 7th}.

Then... whoa, i just freaked my self out by listing all this stuff. I think i'll be happy if i get the first 2 completed.

Have a good one!

Hi

I'm back.

I do not recommend taking a late flight to arrive home at 10pm and then go to the ER for your husband which doesn't allow you to get to bed till 2:30am but really feels like 4:30am because of the jet lag. I'm tired and it's Monday and the day is moving SLOW! My hubs is ok, some inflammation on his colon will keep him bed/couch bound for the next 2 days while he takes high doses of ibprofen and vicodin for the pain. I plan to join him as soon as I can leave work {thankfully, i think i can do this relatively on time even though i wasn't in until 11, i just need a little more sleep}. I think the oddest thing I collect is my husband's ER wrist bands. We go normally once a year for something major {cut, dog bite...}, we've been 3 times so far in '08. I keep meaning to make a little book or box with stories attached. It's not even that they're great stories it just seems like something to document. It's ok you can say it, that's odd.

Sometime in the past 10 days Portland flipped completely over to fall. It's beautiful despite the rain and the cool wind. There is a huge tree outside our apartment that looks like it's on fire with all the reds and oranges of it's leaves. I took video and pictures of it today with plans to show you later.

A few quick good bits:

- My niece is adorable!!!!! She smiles, laughs, reaches for people, keeps eye contact, gets happy when her parents walk in the room and makes raspberries at random. I love her so much more than i thought i ever would. She also makes it 10x as hard to leave Dallas - she changes so fast!

- Antiquing with my sister.in.law was a complete successes. She actually noticed an Argus 40 sitting high on a shelf {i got it for $20, this was not the steal i was hoping for but worth it for actually seeing in person the great looking lenses}. The other great find was wooden block print letters. This jumble of numbers and letters produced enough for my last name, wedding date, and JOY which i plan on using for my Christmas cards.

More to come...

A Week in the Life of

Ok, so i did a horrible job keeping up with daily photos and notes of my normal week. I thought i'd try it again but this time documenting my unusual week in Texas. I'm very excited about my trip.

I'm debating if i want to take my Yashica for TtV. Tuesday there are plans for my s.i.l and i to go antiquing. My hope is to find a cheap but good Kodak Duaflex or Argus 75. I also have fantasies about my grandfather already having one that he'd let me keep, lol. I still need to make a contraption to block out light. Wonder if i can get that done Friday night...

Really looking forward to flying. I find it relaxing once i'm on the plane and a little nervous before hand {checking in, going through security, no delays...}. There is just something so nice about being forced to sit in one chair for a couple of hours with only books, music and thoughts to keep you company. PLUS I'm pretty sure i have window seats the whole time {layover going and nonstop way home}. I want to try taking video of the take off/landings and some clouds if i can. Usually, there are some good clouds leaving Portland. I admit this is inspired by Swirly's recent video she created - the clouds with the sun is make-my-heart-sing-beautiful {the whole film is good too}.

Art & Soul Update

I loved the class i took from Traci Bunkers! She was a great teacher and a nice person to meet.

The shocker was she was serious about using erasers. On the supply list it said 2-3 white/pink erasers. I thought shew as talking about the carving blocks that are kind of like erasers but not. No, she really was talking about the kind you can find at the end of a pencil but flat. I carved 2 in class that she included in a kit and it was fine but a little crumbly and not a fan of that. Think i'll like sticking with the speedball version of eraser blocks which are a little firmer.

She introduced me to modelable foam. I'm in love with it! A heat gun is going on my Christmas list. I'm also starting to appreciate stencils for using painting/collage. The best part was just all these things she showed us that can be used for printing - really helped open up my eyes to possibilities.

Looking forward to saving up for next year!

October

Yeah, for starting another month and it only being 10 days till i leave town.

Yesterday i was in the throws of self pity and did not document one thing for the Week in the Life project. Today i'm making up for it. I've already taken 3 pictures, lol. Others are A LOT more detailed then i ever thought of being. I was thinking one event per day would be a good goal.

The most eventful thing yesterday was picking little Miss. Z up from the vets/M. work. Turns out she had 2 hot spots, which they now think are allergic reactions to flea* bites, on her rump. Monday she had chewed her self 2 nice bald patches at the irritating spot. Tuesday went in and had those areas shaved... she looks a little funny. I'll be taking pictures tonight of it.

*they couldn't find fleas on her and they are not {thank God} in the house. We're pretty sure she picked it up a week or so ago at the in-laws place. There is this outdoor pin they stay in. Also the in-laws dog came down with the same thing last week.

Exciting bits about today:

- my freelance web project is live!!! OMG it has been a week of working with techs over something i thought was rather simple and should have taken only a few hours. Ah well, it's working now, thankfully. Only thing left is final invoice and one meeting to go over how to edit their lovely blogger based site.

- went and registered at Art & Soul! I got a little goodie bag filled with treats like a monthly calendar, an insulated lunch bag, coupons for local art stores and a few other things. They gave it to me in this rather nice canvass bag, that's uh, lime green. I got a little high on giddy feelings while perusing the art supply shop that was set up in the lobby of the hosting hotel. I could have easily walked out with about $300 dollars worth of stuff. I restrained my self and walked away with nothing but excited to know that it's all from a local store that i can visit at a moments notice.

How's your week going?

Newsflash -

marriage is hard.

Week In the Life

In the spirit of saying Yes to everything lately I'm taking up Ali's challenge of documenting a week in my life. Flickr group.

To follow the instructions on keeping notes, i'm jotting them here. I'm going to focus on capturing small things during the day and hopefully one thing that inspires me.

Monday Notes:
The wind that comes strongly through the Columbia gorge has started. It's fall. Ah, the lovely sounds of the trees rustling around. Thankfully the wind is still warm but likely not for long.


***
I took my first TtV shot this weekend. I definitely need to build a contraption to block the light and glare. I'll upload it later today, at least that's the plan. The plan worked:

First shot, too close to the viewfinder:


















Second shot, all of the viewfinder but blurry. I took a few more shots with the same bad results. This is when i stopped and decided that i really did need a contraption.

Scavenger & Through the Viewfinder

Two more fun and creative things that are happening in my life...

I have signed up for an exciting collaborative project, The Scavenger Project. It was created by Design For Man Kind in collaboration with Art House in Atlanta. In a week or so i will be getting a little packet in the mail with my list of 24 items/topics to base my art on. I have until Nov. 15th to get this all done and mail it in so i can have 1 piece published in a collaborative book. I'm excited and nervous that i'll have so much to do. I'm really hoping it gets here before i go out of town so i can be on the look out while in Texas.


The other is a the discovery of a photography technique called Through The Viewfinder. With a dualfex type camera {medium format} a picture is taken through it's view finder on top with a digital camera. The results are square format photos with a verity of results - depending on the lens style, cleanliness of lens & or mirror - you can get really clean looking photos or dirty. I highly recommend looking through the flickr group for this style.

How this all started is by me reading Hula Seventy's post about TtV. It occurred to me that we have several old cameras that were obtained through a series of events. On the shelf in M.'s office sat this beautiful Yashica D. I had a Yashica D and i didn't even know it! Turns out, there is a grid on the lens, i'm not sure how i feel about it. I've read in the flickr group that some love the grid and others clean it of with windex. That last part has me concerned about cleaning it at all, even though the viewfinder does have odd smudges on it. There is a small chance that the grid is in the ground glass and won't come off at all or is on the underside of the glass and cleaning the top won't matter. For now, i'm leaving it alone. I haven't even takin' one shot yet for goodness sakes.

That's right i haven't been brave and taken a shot yet. Although, i've done lots of reading and perusing of different types of cameras. I have the bug to buy a different style camera bad! Part of me thinks, i'll leave the Yashica D w/ grid because i'll admit that on some shots it's a nice little something and then i'll have say a Kodax Dualfex II for clean shots and a Starflex for it's great looking warped edges and maybe i can find one that's a little dirty, i like this look too!

This is very typical of my personality - get very excited about something - read up on it - day dream - but this is the tricky part, if i wait too long to get started i'll get bored day dreaming and move on - or if i start but run into a problem i'll move on*. So, the goal here is to take a picture by the end of the week. Who cares if i don't have the perfect light shield contraption, i'll use a dark piece of cloth if i have to, i will take a picture!

*it's not 100% of the time that i'll move on, sometimes i work through a problem and feel a great accomplishment.

Life Update

I'm going to Texas in October!

I'm mostly excited but a little sad. This was our year to go down for Thanksgiving and i thought buying the tickets 2 months in advance would be enough and in the past leaving on T-day was the cheapest - well not this year! It would have cost us close to $1,000 dollars for me and my husband to go. Lets just say we didn't budget for that much. Plus, M. started a new job and has no time off except for thanksgiving day and that fri after which didn't help with the price of the tickets.

After a little hemming and hawing... the choice was made instead of breaking the bank I'd go to Texas by my self. Since i was going by my self it would make sense to go at the same time my mom & step-dad would be in town from New York. That's the exciting part, I get to see them! It's been 1.5yrs since my mom and 2yrs for my step-dad. The sad part is my husband is stuck at home and it puts some some plans on hold {like going to the Ft. Worth Zoo, the point was to take him}. Bonus to going in Oct. i get to go to the State Fair - sad part, i would love to take M. to it some year.

I have been really thankful though that M. has been very encouraging for me to go see my family. Sure, he likes my family but in the end they're mine and it's not exactly the same bond. I understand this, i feel the same about his - love them but i'd have him go alone if i couldn't make it. Sometimes it's the hardest thing living in different states!

***
In other exciting news, i'm going to an art class hosted by Art & Soul while it's here in Portland. I'm only taking one class but it's on block printing which I LOVE {even though you can't tell because i never post any of my work, the little that i have}. There are so many classes i would have loved to take but again the money thing but maybe next year!

New Gadget

Here are 2 GOOD things:

1 - I got an ipod shuffle today at work!
Its the purple 1g but i might have to buy it an argyle vinyl cover.

They're actually a promotional thing for another department but i was asking how i could get one and my boss just gave it to me. I appreciate it, makes up for me having to move offices to the other side of the building, being too far from the printers for my liking and now i'm sharing an office instead having my own... ok maybe it doesn't completely make up for this but at least it helps.


2 - Nitro & Z's Birthday! Happy 3rd doggies! We don't do anything special... they might get a walk, lol.



P.S. I still feel like i'm at the bottom of a hill but I think i've at least stood up. It feels like i've lost the ability to think clearly, a cloud cover has rolled in and i swear 3 weeks ago i could been in a good mood but now... good moods are fleeting and anxiety/giving up is too easy. I was joking with my mom about self medicating with rhodiola.

*Gasp*

i'm still breathing but slowly - completely rolled down the hill and now laying at the bottom wondering "do i have to get up?"

Who Does She Think She Is?

A documentary following 5 women who are artist, mothers and wives. The trailer is a must watch, it makes me giddy {it starts playing as part of the intro to the site}.

Here is the synopsis from the website:
"In a half-changed world, women often feel they need to choose: mother or working? Your children's will-being or your own? Who Does She Think She Is?, is a documentary by Academy Award winning filmmaker Pamela Tanner Boll, features five fierce women who refuse to choose. Through their lives, we explore some of the most problematic intersections of our time: othering and creativity, partnering and independence, economics and art. The film invites us to consider both ancient legacies of women worshipped as cultural muses and more modern times where most people can't even name a handful of female artists"

This actually speaks to one of my fears about being a mother, will i lose my self by having a baby? I'm glad to say that i am continually meeting woman that art artist and mothers and have not lost them selves at all.

The other question i've struggled with is, why do creative people have doubts about if they have the right to make art? Why would a person not have the right to make art? I definitely know there is a part of our world that does not understand a truly creative spirit, one that feels fulfilled by painting, dancing, singing etc. but those people do not hold all the power to dictate what is and is not "right".

Have you watched the trailer yet?

Cell Phone - love or hate it

I was at Sparkeltopia Monday and she had posted an interesting article by Ben Stein for The New York Times on his perspective of cellphones, titled Connected, Yes, but Hermetically Sealed. Go read it, it's very well written and offers an interesting point of view.

I don't totally agree with his point of view. Ben's perspective is that we're now ball and chained to cell phones and that we don't think anymore and wouldn't the world be better with out them. He blames the cell phone for causing too much connection {the business employee always reachable} and for lack of connection {kids walking down the street texting but not talking}. I believe the cell has gotten a bad wrap. The problem is more far reaching then blaming an electronic device. It's more that most Americans* have lost the ability to set healthy boundaries of personal space. An employee can set the rules down that they're not available after hours, the person who wants to do an activity undisturbed has the ability to shut the phone off, the kid that texts will still turn to the friend beside them to talk about what another friend said.

The cell phone is a tool, how are you using it?
*i say America because i only know this culture

Have a different opinion?

Success

This morning was the first successful carpooling trip for my husband and I. Sure, we've only done one leg of the trip but it was smooth. We even took the highways all the way into downtown with out traffic, how odd is that? It was about 7:20 by the time we hit the main freeway that is usually slow so it's not like it was super early. I'll stop commenting on it so maybe it will happen again tomorrow.

M. started his new job downtown and it's going to work out great. The hard part is getting into a morning routine. We both at 6:15 were grumbling about getting up. For me it was mostly the fact that it's not even September and it's already gray out at 6:15am - what happened to the sun? I'm not ready for shorter days yet. Don't miss the heat but i need my sun. I'm considering buying one of these lamps that simulates a sunrise and can play mp3 music to wake up to.

The trip was also really nice because we got to do a little talking and a little hand holding and it felt like a bit of the good life before walking into an office all day. I was afraid that i'd miss my alone commute to rock out to what i wanted and i probably will but not this morning. Plus i still got 15min by my self after i dropped him off.

Here's to good changes!

Sneaky Dream

Last night i went to bed at 9:30p because the night before i had missed out on sleep by going to bed at 1:00a. I love my sleep, i believe that 8 hours of sleep is the right amount but somedays it's ok to go over but under is bad and usually means foggy brain the next day.

I had all kinds of little dreams last night. In the one that was most clear, i was getting ready for work and running late. I knew i worked in a tall business office and something formal because i was actually putting on hose. I called the receptionist for the office to tell her i was running late. She asked "do you want to take it as a day off?" - i debated it, i was only going to be an hour late but if she was offering a day off i was going to take it. I replied "yes, i'll take the day off."

Then I wake up. I wake up to the very sad realization that i did not have the day off. I felt disappointed that it wasn't true and then annoyed that my brain had completely tricked me. I contemplated calling in sick but talked my self out. I sit here typing this in the single level building that houses the company i work for, grateful to be in my jeans and sneakers and not hose.

House

My husband and I are getting serious about making the commitment to buy a house next spring. This is very scary to me, the commitment, the what the hell will happen to us if one of us loses our job and we can't afford the mortgage? I know, I should be confident in God to take care of us but what if we in our stupid human brains run off and get a mortgage and that wasn't God's plan? You think there will be a warning sign like we can't get a loan or can't find a house?

A loan, there is a big hurdle. We're going in January* to talk to a lender and see if we even qualify. The good things we have going for us is that it's a buyer's market and we're first time home owners so there are all kinds of incentives going on {money (for down payment/closing costs), specific types of loans...}. *Jan because our rental agreement isn't up until March 31st and we're not breaking our agreement which is 1 month rent - we're not giving them any more money then we have to.

I figured this would be our starter home that we're in for 5 years maybe have 1 kid in and then hopefully be in a situation to upgrade homes. Last night i found out that my husband wants to find one we can live in for at least 10. I have never planned so far into the future, it's scary!

Then comes finding THE ONE - our requirements for us to live in a house for 10 years:

• 3 bedrooms
• 2 bathrooms
• at least 1400 sq ft.
• backyard big enough for 2 dogs
• affordable property tax
• good neighborhood (no ghetto)
• good schools (maybe, who knows, if we have kids they may go to private school but in case they don't... )
• closer into town (no 45 min. job commute - of course this is never guaranteed)
• as a bonus we'd love to have the bungalow style home.

Can we get all that for no more than 215,000? I guess we'll find out.

Breaking Dawn Review

Yes, yes, i got sucked into the Twilight book series. I'm not as enchanted with it as say Harry Potter. The first book was good but i was greatly disapointed in the plots of book 2 and 3. Book 4 is excellent in how she ties all the strings together and reveals more vampire history.

I wrote a review that does contain spoilers which is why i posted it to my archives. You can read here: Review I don't go into great details but you might find it interesting.

Getting Shorter

The days are getting shorter. This makes me bummed. I'm not really ready for fall yet. I've enjoyed our mild summer, only a few days of raging heat and the rest have been left pleasantly warm.

Last night i noticed at 8:30p that it was practically dark out, if not a little dusky.
This morning at 6:00a, when i actually woke up before my alarm, the sky was a dull gray not roaring sunny like it has been the past few months.

Hi Everybody!

I didn't intend to take such a long break from the blog but such is life. This past week i was in one tired, cranky with small breaks of sunshine mood. Plus a little busy with a few social events and a freelance gig.

Today i feel awesome! My husband got back into town last night after a week of being away. I had missed him but didn't realize what horrible sleep i was getting until last night. I slept great! A couple of odd dreams but i woke up this morning rested. I love my sleep people and apparently i get really good sleep when i know my man is home.

So, I still have photos to post of our anniversary get away. Also a funny video of the dogs.

Now, a quick story about Sunday. Me and a friend when to another friend's house. This house is sitting on a mountain and it's beautiful and relaxing to be there! Our plans were to get together and be creative but we only got an hour into it before we abandon the picnic table for the kitchen and more food. It was the BEST time! Homemade strawberry jelly and freezer jam on homemade biscuits is just good soul food.

One of the best items i was introduced to was a tea. Both friends are big into teas and i'm only really into ice tea and the occasional hot. Well.... i was convinced to try this black tea called Yorkshire Gold - it's amazing!! It has a full body and rich taste especially with a little bit of milk and a dash of sugar. On Monday morning i was craving it like my normal cup of morning coffee, it was that tasty! Apparently, it's considered an expensive tea but i figure if i just paid $12.95 for a pound seasonal type of coffee - i can afford $5.99 for a box of 40 tea bags. Disclaimer: I only googled the link to the online store, i have not ordered from them before. I'm told you can find the tea in most speciality tea shops.

Leap Frog Through the Years

20 Years Ago:
I don't clearly remember but i'm sure playing with my older sister and younger brother. Maybe starting my first year being taught at home. Met for the first time a neighbor girl that would be my best friend for the next 15 years and thankfully a good friend after that.

15 Years Ago:
I clearly remember my tenth birthday party with family members. My mom made an ice cream cake. I was wearing this one piece jumpsuit that was pink with white dots - turns out my aunt had purchased the same outfit but purple - i had no qualms about having both colors in my wardrobe.

This was also when things started noticing things not being so great between my parents.

10 Years Ago:
My parents had been divorced a few years and i was living with my mom.
I started dating in jnr high and it was fun but of course drama filled.
My sister got engaged - very exciting.

5 Years Ago:
- I was living with my dad and his wife, her daughter and my brother.
- Getting over my first real heart break. If i think about him too much it still stings a little which makes me irritated because i should be way over it.
- Finish school to graduate summer of 2003 with my associates in graphic design and lovin' it.
- Plotting and planning my great escape to Oregon for more school but this time for a b.s. That includes a great road trip that i still need to write about.

3 Years Ago:

This year was all about family and growth and changes:

- I was living in Oregon and more college - lovin' oregon more than school.
- I got engaged!
- My mom and step-dad moved up to Oregon and in with me.
- Got 2 crazy cattle dogs
- My step-sister got married and i got to go back to be a bridesmaid
- My brother got engaged
- My cousin passed away suddenly and rocked the family hard {this cousin was the same age as me}

1 Year Ago:
- Celebrated my 1 year anniversary with my husband at the ocean (my fav. place).
- Danced, jumped up and down, celebrated with the news of my older sister's first pregnancy.
- Cut the top of my left foot that gave me a quarter inch scar - i'm thinking of getting a tattoo over it if i can {it's close to a big vain} and if i get the nerve up.

Yesterday I:
- Tried to go to work in my car but it wouldn't start. The tumblers inside the ignition wouldn't catch with the key.
- Talked to my sister and heard my tiny niece scream in the background that ended the conversation, lol.
- Observed my 2nd year anniversary by waiting up for my husband to come from work before i fell asleep. Thankfully, we're going away this weekend. I did receive some beautiful roses and the sweetest card.

Today I:
- Doddle at work
- Finished a zine page for a group project
- Geeked out when i remembered some html code for tweaking a blog

Tomorrow I Will:
- Go try to get my car fixed
- Work on a different project that's on my plate
- Read blogs

In the next 5 years:
I will own a house, have a career i enjoy, still be living in oregon and have a closer relationship with my husband.

***
I should add that i picked up this meme from Daisies

Happy Anniversary

Here's to two completed years and may the third be better yet.

Banner

I made the background for my new banner at this fun website: BG Patterns
You can make lots of color and pattern combos.

Sign Up Addict

I love signing up for new online programs plus i'm sucker for making lists. I don't use them all equally but at one point i have used it. If i run across several sites that offer similar services, i will go with the better design (visuals or layout/navigation). The hardest part is keeping all the passwords straight and which email address i registered with - i have yet to make this into a list for fear it will fall into the wrong hands and suddenly people can sign in and create lists of things i would never do... or just lock me out of my account.

Here is just off the top of my head places i'm at:

• Squirl.info - lets you record all your collections online - latest sign up
  
• GoodReads - Lets you list all things having to do with books
  
• Listography - Lets you list all things related to anything in your life - very simple site
  
• Flixster - Keeps track of all those movies i watch and lets me create lists to further categorize them (seen in theaters, rented, own, chick flicks...)
  
• Del.icio.us - lists links and organizes by tags that you can further organize into groups
  
• Flickr - organize your photos and now short movies
  
• Google Video - only because i can't get youtube to work with the screen name i want
  
• Blogger - list my thoughts
  
• Facebook - those little aps are addicting plus i'm staying in touch with old friends i had previously lost touch with.
  
• MindMeister - cool interactive way to create mind maps - start with one word/topic in the middle and branch out from there and then branch out from the second words...
  
• Spark People - online community for health and weight loss - i get their emails and occasionally sign in - it seems like a great site if i would use it

A few I know about but haven't used:

Remember The Milk - Easy way to keep track of all your tasks, to do lists, meetings...

43Things - similar to Listography, it lets you list anything but with a better design

All Consuming - like Squirl it lets you catalog lots of things but i think i prefer goodreads/flixster/squirl's layouts better.

Happy Exploring!

P.S. Thought I'd add things i'm avoiding:

Twitter - mostly because i already slack on keeping up with this blog and facebook, why do i need to sign up for something else i'd neglect?

Second Life - i think i'm only avoiding it at this point because i don't have the computer power to run the site. Marillaanne is quite involved with it and teases me with shots of what she's doing. The possibilities with it are huge but time consuming almost addicting some would say.

Niece Update - 7 weeks

Look at her belly!


I purchased these for her - my sister did register for them, couldn't turn down the chance to buy wanted clothing!


Her daddy slipped in at nap time to arrange pooh & friends.



She's so precious! The nursery is pink, white and classic pooh.

Run Down

Here's a run down of things in my brain:

Projects to be completed & or in the mail by the 18th:
- sister's birth announcements {the baby will be 2 months - that's not too bad right?}
- zine pages {phobias is the theme - got my idea - execution time}
- sketch of picture to go with a story for a collaborative project {again, have idea just gotta get it down!}
- notes/handout on how to use a blog {i'm leading a small blogging 101 type class for the art group i'm part of}

Projects I'd like to do soon:
- Catch up on my block prints - i'm supposed to have 6 by now but only really have 3.
- Make glass coasters for house warming gift to s-i-l {don't worry she doesn't read the blog}
- Start scanning in documents i want to keep but don't want the physical copies of

***
Where are we going to live?! We have to give notice by Aug. 1st if we're renewing our apt. lease or moving. We're toying, a little, with moving downtown {gasp!} Or we might rent a house Or we might stay where we are and try to buy in 6 months.

***
Cleared out 1 more box from the closet. Found my birth certificate, old stamps i'd been searching for for months and varies nick-knacks that i forgot about but now fond of again that i found them. They went back into a box, i don't know what to do with them yet. I did not find: car title or original packaging for my MS Office 2000, I still need the key code for reinstall. {side rant: my usb ports are not working on my computer! I can't access old files on a external hd and i can't unload my camera card. I hate reloading my computer. I'd love hmm, i don't know $5,000 to start over with all the programs i want}

I also went through a box of old journals/sketch books. O.M.G. i tossed several journals filled to the brim with teenage drama. Some people like to hold on to their journals or reread them. I find it painful to go back through them. Painful in the way that i'll catch a line and think "wow i still struggle with that insecurity" or i'll find pages filled about some emotional upheaval i was having over a guy that at the time matter a lot but now i have no clue where he is {nor do i care}. I'd rather just chuck the journal then carry around all that muck.

The other thing about going through all these boxes that have been stashed is how much crap i have. The past 4 years i have been slowly chipping away at all i brought with me to Portland. Still have no clue how it all fit in a 10ft x 10ft room in Texas. I still need to developed that callousness to just toss anything i'm not using because no one really wants it either. I did, finally, go through a few old {2003} Real Simple magazines and pulled out articles and a few receipts i wanted. It's kind of surprising how similar Real Simple issues are from one year to the next. Still love the layout of the mag though and those little inspirational pages in the front.

Ah, the woes of a pack-rat.

***
When a prayer request is voiced don't confuse it with a request for human advice. If you're offering unsolicited advice don't be offended if the intended receiver disagrees with you and don't try to explain the advice again in an attempted to persuade them. No need to over explain and only explain a point if the person requests it {this is really good with anything not just advice}.

So, there's my unsolicited advice to you.

***

Happy Fourth of July!

July - a year half full - already!

I hope everyone had a pleasant day. Mine was filled with sleeping in late, a church picnic, getting sunburned even though it was really cloudy, and seeing a movie. That's right, this year we broke with tradition and saw a movie instead of fireworks. Neither of us were feeling the need to mess with traffic to go see any. Instead we saw Wall-e, very good movie! Who knew you could make a little cartoon roach likable! Also impressed with the personality the animators were able to put into the robots. I recommend you go see it, not that you probably needed a recommendations.

Movies still to see:
Hancock {think i can wait till dvd though}
Wanted
Hellboy 2 {out next weekend}

On a complete random side note, never format your hard drive and then realize that you don't have your install key for Window's Office that could have been recovered from the HD that was just wiped. It causes a lot of headaches!

4:00 AM

I was so pleasantly asleep until 4:00 AM when this HUGE rumble sound echos in the bedroom. I was shocked and pleasantly surprised that not only did we get not 1 but 2 thunderstorms in a week!

When we were heading out to bed around 11, there was far away lightening and thunder. Couldn't see the lightening streaks just that it would light up the cloudy sky. A tiny soft rumble would happen next.

By 4:00 it was in full force right over the apartment. The lightening was so bright that even with my eyes closed i could tell when it went off. I guess i should explain that because we have no a/c we have our windows and blinds open for air circulation from fans.

The rain was pouring down but great sounding. It's not often you hear hard rain here but i love it when i do! The loud thunder didn't last but for about 4 rumbles and then it quieted it self down just a little.

It was a little distracting to go back to sleep but at the same time perfect weather to stay cozy in bed. I should report that our dogs handled it beautifully, no barking or going crazy.

Fortune Cookie

...in bed

Randomness

Who knew going to the grocery store was good fodder for the blog.

Yesterday evening I swung by a local chain grocery store to pick up two things. I get to the check out stand and place the rubber gloves and blue ink pens on the belt. It occurred to me that those seem like the two most opposite things you could buy together because they're rarely, if ever, used together. Then started to wonder what odd combos the check out clerks see, not that they probably cared to keep track.

I was quite surprised to find non-latex heavy rubber gloves because normally it's only those horrid yellow ones. I'm hoping they don't smell as bad. I can't stand the way the cheap ones make my hands smell but i tolerate it because i have a higher dislike of touching dirty dishes. If anyone knows of some great rubber gloves please let me know!

The pens were just so i could have some nice pens in the house again. Somehow I can only seem to find 1 or 2 good pens at a time and then i lose them again. Last night i didn't feel like hunting one down.

The other thing i found humors was in the parking lot of the store. I was turning out from a row onto another one that runs in front of the store. It was one of those awkward moments where people are walking out and they look like they're going to cross but keep walking beside the building instead. So, i go ahead and complete my turn slowly but then the two guys who are dressed in army fatigues go ahead and start moving to cross the street. I stop and then they do that half walk half jog to hurry and get across. I found it ironic that these two men may have or will face things much more dangerous then getting hit by a car but they still hurry to get out of the way. They were probably trying to be nice but still found it a little ironic.

It should also be noted that i used the pens last night but not the gloves.... Saturday maybe i'll use them. Tonight my husband and i are actually going on a date to dinner and a movie, by our selves! I'm looking forward to it.

From Texas with Love

Made it in at about 10am Sunday from Texas and a week long visit with family. My baby niece is amazing! I didn't take nearly as many pictures as i should have. At 3 weeks she is very squirmy when awake and usually swaddled when asleep so those little feet didn't get into many shots.

This trip was very emotional for me. I usually have one good cry on the last day about having to go back. However, this trip it started with crying when i first met Noel and then during the whole week I couldn't think to hard about leaving again with out tearing up. It's hard to think that i'll be the long distance aunt, even though i have a better relationship with my aunts now that i'm miles away then i did when i lived 30 minutes... but it's more the fact that i won't get to raise my kids along side my siblings and their children like i was. Thankfully, my siblings like to travel!

I should mention that my husband has been bitten by the baby bug, LOL! He said he's not ready right this second but in a couple of years. That's an improvement considering we were saying maybe in four. I'm glad he still wants to wait - i'm not ready at all!

What was really nice about this trip was reconnecting with childhood friends. I got to meet up with one at her home and her 2 adorable children (her son sings quite nicely at 3 yrs old). I went to the bridal shower of another and visited with her family who i had not seen in years! At the shower i was surprised to see a mutual childhood friend and we talked a lot about life and being married. It's great to reconnect!

The pictures are still in my camera. I haven't had much interest in sitting at the computer when i get home from work this week. I'll get them out soon, promise.

Humming...

I feel restless in a lot of ways.

I am dissatisfied with several things.

I would like to explore some change.

Monday - slow build up from bad to good

Monday started out badly, really it all started Sunday night when my husband ended up having to work an hour later than normal which caused me to fall asleep and miss saying good night.

Was enjoying my breakfast at home {go me} when my phone went off at 7:15am. It was my company's printers - not completely unexpected because i did have a press check today. Oops turns out it was at 7am and they forgot to tell me! I told them sorry but i can't get there any faster then an hour {had to wrap up my lunch & it takes me 45min to get there - bonus go me for packing lunch}. The whole way there i was annoyed even though i was rockin' out to OK GO i kept playing out defensive arguments i would have with the press men and then my boss. Turns out everyone was cool/didn't care.

Walked in the door at work and was informed that the Xerox tech would be in this afternoon. Ok, what's wrong? The paper catch tray broke off! Apparent the machine really can malfunction and not tell it self that the catch tray is full until it's too late and the weight of the paper makes it snap off. Now, i could make some snide remark about why didn't the guys on shift notice that the paper was full and move it off? I could but then some day it will probably happen to me and i wouldn't want to be called a moron when it's really the machines fault.

Turning point - my sister sent me pictures of Noel sleeping - awww her little mouth was slightly open. One can not stay in a bad mood with baby pictures of their niece. Way excited that i leave on Saturday to go see her!

This afternoon i was feeling a little weird - i think it was having too much cheese with lunch but i digress... and wishing i didn't have a gym training session right after work. What happens an hour later? I get a phone call from my trainer saying he needs to reschedule! Excellent - so now i can go home and feel weird which is so much better then trying to do leg lifts on a bad stomach.

I think i might rewatch Mad Money tonight. I know, you wouldn't think it was a good movie but it's funny and clever. Plus the song that plays on the main menu and i think the credits is very catchy.

Field Trip

Last Saturday i went on a field trip and took some photos of flowers among other things. It has taken me all week to get the photos from my camera to computer to editing to uploading. I thought i would try a new way to display several photos - i'm not real excited about how they look just uploaded to blogger. Enjoy!

Arrival {update: pics}

Noel Elise has arrived!!

Born at 4:04pm Central Time - 6 lb. 9 oz. and 20 inches long with dark hair.

Do a little happy dance! I know I've done a few of them. I don't have pictures yet, they won't be home from the birthing center until about midnight. I won't expect any until tomorrow afternoon or evening. Oooh the agony of waiting!

Everyone is doing great! My sister told my dad who told me that everything went amazingly easy for the first birth. There were no complications and quick birth.

I'm sooo happy!!!!

Newborn Noel - laying on the bed at the birthing center taken by her dad.

Noel at 25 hours being held by her great grandmother.

*sigh* my heart is melting...

!!!!!!!

My sister has gone into labor!!!!

I got a phone call from my step-mom at 10:56am and i missed it! I couldn't believe it, i was sitting right next to it and didn't hear it in my purse. Anyway, got her voice mail and called back for her to tell me everything again. My sister's water broke this morning and at 11 she was at 4cm. So, my niece will probably be here by this evening and then everyone back home tomorrow morning. Which means easily about 24hrs of waiting before i get a picture!!

I have called my husband, texted my brother, called my step-sister, IMed with my mom, IMed with a cousin-in-law, told a friend, told my female co-workers who all squealed with me... I think the adrenalin has finally wained enough for me to go get lunch and maybe come back and work a little.

I'll keep ya'll posted!