38 days until my dear sweet cousin Erin, who is also like a sister and the very best friend on the planet, moves! She's off to law school in SF where I will be coming to visit her as often as possible. Just load myself onto an Amtrak on Friday nights and bug her & her husband all weekend long.
However, before then is her birthday. Only 11 days away. I have been working tirelessly on her birthday gift.....
HAH! cant show you for 2 reasons...
1 - I want it to be a suprise & she reads this from time to time
2 - I have somehow managed to lose the usb cable for my digital camera. I have no clue how this happened. I used it, and now its gone. So, I'll be off to best buy on my way home tonight.
Wednesday, June 29, 2005
Friday, June 24, 2005
I hope this helps....
I've always been a crafty type person... I crochet, I make beaded jewelry, I've made bath products like sugar scrubs and bubble baths and some very basic sewing. My family and friends call me a "blue collar Martha Stewart". As the holidays approach I hear a lot of "I can't wait to see what you're making this year" and I feel a bit of pressure to at least measure up to the previous year, if not out do it.
As much as I've been into crafts, one thing I've never been able to do is knit. I've tried. As long as I have someone else cast on for me I can get going okay on something super basic like a garter knit scarf or something like that. But, if I have to cast on myself, I'm screwed. I end up with these crazy loopy looking things along the edge. I don't know what the hell I'm doing wrong. So, yesterday I was in Barnes & Nobles and this was smack in front of me....
I'm going to give knitting another try, after all there are soooo many beautiful patterns out there that I would love to buy & knit.
But for now....
I'm off to the bead shop.
As much as I've been into crafts, one thing I've never been able to do is knit. I've tried. As long as I have someone else cast on for me I can get going okay on something super basic like a garter knit scarf or something like that. But, if I have to cast on myself, I'm screwed. I end up with these crazy loopy looking things along the edge. I don't know what the hell I'm doing wrong. So, yesterday I was in Barnes & Nobles and this was smack in front of me....
I'm going to give knitting another try, after all there are soooo many beautiful patterns out there that I would love to buy & knit.
But for now....
I'm off to the bead shop.
Tuesday, June 21, 2005
Guess what happens when.....
you get a fix it ticket for a busted tail light in mid March, and although you have it fixed right away you think "I've got PLENTY of time to get this signed off on and sent in"
You forget about the entire situation.
Then you come home one day, today in fact, to find a notice on your door.
From the Sacramento County Sheriffs.
Your fine has turned into a warrant.
And the original $10 fine for a fix it ticket.
Now its $231.
And you have a neighbor who notices the sheriffs on your front doorstep and asks them what theyre there for.
So now, the entire neighborhood knows that I didn't take care of my fix it ticket and now have a warrant out.
Great.
F'ing great.
You forget about the entire situation.
Then you come home one day, today in fact, to find a notice on your door.
From the Sacramento County Sheriffs.
Your fine has turned into a warrant.
And the original $10 fine for a fix it ticket.
Now its $231.
And you have a neighbor who notices the sheriffs on your front doorstep and asks them what theyre there for.
So now, the entire neighborhood knows that I didn't take care of my fix it ticket and now have a warrant out.
Great.
F'ing great.
Sunday, June 19, 2005
Happy Fathers Day
Happy Fathers Day!
I have a unique family situation... and by unique I mean entirely confusing.
I have 3 dads.
"How can that be?", you ask?
First, theres my moms first husband Jerry, Dad.
He and my mom met when I was just 8 months old and married when I was 3. I was the flower girl at their wedding. Ive always called him dad, and he's always referred to me as his oldest daughter. He taught me how to swim, how to ride my bike, how to change a flat tire on a car (remember the time I crossed the threads when putting the spare on the Mazda and it ended up costing something like $400 to fix? oops. Sorry about that). I was about 9 years old when I found out he wasnt my actual father. While I may not have been a complete hellian, I WAS NOT an easy child. I was a smartass, challenged everything he said, stuff like that. I think I'm responsible for a lot of the gray hairs on his head.
While we haven't always gotten along, and we've had more than our fair share of screaming matches, I am proud to call him my dad. Because he didnt HAVE to be my dad... he chose to be my dad, and thats what makes him so special to me.
Here he is opening the gift gave him for Fathers Day. A photo of us together when I was about a year and a half old.
My father, Andrew.
We met about a month before my 16th birthday. I get my sarcastic, snarky tendencies from him... as well as my tendency to chain smoke.
He's taught me about finances, how to drive in the snow, and most importantly....
how to sneak booze into "dry" events (note that we're both holding glasses in the photo.... looks like punch? Well, it originally was.... until I pulled a bottle of rum out. He said "thats my girl" and I'll swear there was a tear in his eye).
Then theres my maternal grandpa. Papa Pete.
He passed away a year and a half ago. This is my second fathers day without him, but it hasnt gotten any easier.
He built the treehouse and swings that my cousin Erin and I played on when we were kids.
I can't even begin to list everything I learned from him.
One of the biggest things I did learn from him was to fight through everything thats thrown at you.
6 months before he passed he had a stroke that left him paralyzed on his right side. Once he came home from the hospital I would work with him everyday to walk to the end of the driveway and back, to get the littlest bit of movement back in the small finger on his right hand. He would guide me through making small repairs on mine and my grandmas cars, we would watch movies together - from Clint Eastwood westerns, to Meet the Parents, and Anne of Green Gables.
I miss you, Grandpa.
I have a unique family situation... and by unique I mean entirely confusing.
I have 3 dads.
"How can that be?", you ask?
First, theres my moms first husband Jerry, Dad.
He and my mom met when I was just 8 months old and married when I was 3. I was the flower girl at their wedding. Ive always called him dad, and he's always referred to me as his oldest daughter. He taught me how to swim, how to ride my bike, how to change a flat tire on a car (remember the time I crossed the threads when putting the spare on the Mazda and it ended up costing something like $400 to fix? oops. Sorry about that). I was about 9 years old when I found out he wasnt my actual father. While I may not have been a complete hellian, I WAS NOT an easy child. I was a smartass, challenged everything he said, stuff like that. I think I'm responsible for a lot of the gray hairs on his head.
While we haven't always gotten along, and we've had more than our fair share of screaming matches, I am proud to call him my dad. Because he didnt HAVE to be my dad... he chose to be my dad, and thats what makes him so special to me.
Here he is opening the gift gave him for Fathers Day. A photo of us together when I was about a year and a half old.
My father, Andrew.
We met about a month before my 16th birthday. I get my sarcastic, snarky tendencies from him... as well as my tendency to chain smoke.
He's taught me about finances, how to drive in the snow, and most importantly....
how to sneak booze into "dry" events (note that we're both holding glasses in the photo.... looks like punch? Well, it originally was.... until I pulled a bottle of rum out. He said "thats my girl" and I'll swear there was a tear in his eye).
Then theres my maternal grandpa. Papa Pete.
He passed away a year and a half ago. This is my second fathers day without him, but it hasnt gotten any easier.
He built the treehouse and swings that my cousin Erin and I played on when we were kids.
I can't even begin to list everything I learned from him.
One of the biggest things I did learn from him was to fight through everything thats thrown at you.
6 months before he passed he had a stroke that left him paralyzed on his right side. Once he came home from the hospital I would work with him everyday to walk to the end of the driveway and back, to get the littlest bit of movement back in the small finger on his right hand. He would guide me through making small repairs on mine and my grandmas cars, we would watch movies together - from Clint Eastwood westerns, to Meet the Parents, and Anne of Green Gables.
I miss you, Grandpa.
Tuesday, June 07, 2005
Saturday, June 04, 2005
Pets, suds & performances....
Inspired by some other bloggers, I feel compelled to post my darling furbabies.
First, we have my kitty Roxie. Roxie was a feral that was rescued mb a coworker of mine when she was about 4 months old. She was a bit skittish and untrusting when I first got her a year and a half ago, but she's a total sweetheart now.
unless she's decided that you're wasting precious time by taking pictures when you could be feeding her instead....
And this is my sweet puppy Madeleine, or Maddy for short. Maddy is only 3 and a half months old and she loves Roxie. Roxie mothers her by grooming her and keeping her in check when she misbehaves.
Now, on to my day.
Work... well, it kinda sucked. We've lost 5 people in the last month so things aren't exactly going smoothly.
I planned on stopping off at the Brit pub I occaisionally frequent for a beer after work - my dear cousin Erin is a barmaid there, so I know I can count on a perfectly poured black & tan or a pint of Stella, filled to the rim, whichever my mood calls for.
However, at about 4:40 my dad calls. First he's inviting me to pizza with my, his girlfriend, my brother, my mom & her husband. Sounds good. i'm thinking, okay, I can stop in the pub to visit Erin and enjoy a beer while apologizing to Megan & Kelly for making a drunken fool of myself at Megans birthday and then head over for pizza with the family. After we've been chit-chatting for about 5 minutes, dad throws a bit of a wrench in those plans... but a good one.
Knowing that I was in theater in high school and that I LOVE broadway musicals he very nonchalantly says (not asks) "You wouldn't want 2 tickets to see The Lion King tonight, would you."
W H A T ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
The hottest show in town???
HELL YES I WANT TICKETS.
So, by this time I had 10 minutes to call his friend and make arrangements to have the tickets held for me at will call.
Normally when I am presented with 2 tickets to a function my first reaction is to take Erin. however, erin was tending bar this evening. So, knowing that my little cousin Meghan has been wanting to see this as well, I call her and tell her to be ready when I get home and to dress nicely.
BUT, I DO NOT TELL HER WHERE WE'RE GOING. hehehe.
Not pertinent to this evenings, but I passed this on my way home.
The white stuff?
Soap suds.
I'd estimate that this fountain gets soaped at least once a month during the summer.
Here we are about to leave for the show. Ummm, yeah. Both of my chins and I are going back to the gym & eating better starting this weekend, but thats a whole other post.
See Meghan, skirts DON'T cause you any physical pain...
Here we're on our way downtown.. and Meghan is getting just a bit frustrated that I won't tell her where we're going.
So, she starts trying to guess where we're going. I think one of her best guesses was that we were going to a wedding.
We stop at McDonalds (hey, the diet/gym thing starts this WEEKEND, not tonight) to grab something quick before the show, so she now knows that we wont be eating wherever it is that we're going....
As we get closer to the Community Center, which happens to be across the street from the State Capitol, she asks if we're going to see the governor. HUH?? I would NOT have us dress up and rush downtown to go see Ahhnold. finally, as we drive past the community center and she sees the 20 foot tall sign for The Lion King she guesses it.
The show was FANTASTIC. Makes me want to go to the theatre more often. Meghan loved it as well, and now she wants us to go to the theater more often. I think its great when you can get a 13 year old to want to go see plays and musicals. I think that does so much for their appreciation of culture. Aunt Marla and Uncle Mike... THANK YOU for taking me to the symphony and theatre when I was younger.
As much as she enjoyed the show, she did not enjoy wearing a skirt or heels.
First, we have my kitty Roxie. Roxie was a feral that was rescued mb a coworker of mine when she was about 4 months old. She was a bit skittish and untrusting when I first got her a year and a half ago, but she's a total sweetheart now.
unless she's decided that you're wasting precious time by taking pictures when you could be feeding her instead....
And this is my sweet puppy Madeleine, or Maddy for short. Maddy is only 3 and a half months old and she loves Roxie. Roxie mothers her by grooming her and keeping her in check when she misbehaves.
Now, on to my day.
Work... well, it kinda sucked. We've lost 5 people in the last month so things aren't exactly going smoothly.
I planned on stopping off at the Brit pub I occaisionally frequent for a beer after work - my dear cousin Erin is a barmaid there, so I know I can count on a perfectly poured black & tan or a pint of Stella, filled to the rim, whichever my mood calls for.
However, at about 4:40 my dad calls. First he's inviting me to pizza with my, his girlfriend, my brother, my mom & her husband. Sounds good. i'm thinking, okay, I can stop in the pub to visit Erin and enjoy a beer while apologizing to Megan & Kelly for making a drunken fool of myself at Megans birthday and then head over for pizza with the family. After we've been chit-chatting for about 5 minutes, dad throws a bit of a wrench in those plans... but a good one.
Knowing that I was in theater in high school and that I LOVE broadway musicals he very nonchalantly says (not asks) "You wouldn't want 2 tickets to see The Lion King tonight, would you."
W H A T ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
The hottest show in town???
HELL YES I WANT TICKETS.
So, by this time I had 10 minutes to call his friend and make arrangements to have the tickets held for me at will call.
Normally when I am presented with 2 tickets to a function my first reaction is to take Erin. however, erin was tending bar this evening. So, knowing that my little cousin Meghan has been wanting to see this as well, I call her and tell her to be ready when I get home and to dress nicely.
BUT, I DO NOT TELL HER WHERE WE'RE GOING. hehehe.
Not pertinent to this evenings, but I passed this on my way home.
The white stuff?
Soap suds.
I'd estimate that this fountain gets soaped at least once a month during the summer.
Here we are about to leave for the show. Ummm, yeah. Both of my chins and I are going back to the gym & eating better starting this weekend, but thats a whole other post.
See Meghan, skirts DON'T cause you any physical pain...
Here we're on our way downtown.. and Meghan is getting just a bit frustrated that I won't tell her where we're going.
So, she starts trying to guess where we're going. I think one of her best guesses was that we were going to a wedding.
We stop at McDonalds (hey, the diet/gym thing starts this WEEKEND, not tonight) to grab something quick before the show, so she now knows that we wont be eating wherever it is that we're going....
As we get closer to the Community Center, which happens to be across the street from the State Capitol, she asks if we're going to see the governor. HUH?? I would NOT have us dress up and rush downtown to go see Ahhnold. finally, as we drive past the community center and she sees the 20 foot tall sign for The Lion King she guesses it.
The show was FANTASTIC. Makes me want to go to the theatre more often. Meghan loved it as well, and now she wants us to go to the theater more often. I think its great when you can get a 13 year old to want to go see plays and musicals. I think that does so much for their appreciation of culture. Aunt Marla and Uncle Mike... THANK YOU for taking me to the symphony and theatre when I was younger.
As much as she enjoyed the show, she did not enjoy wearing a skirt or heels.
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