Ding Dong the Mom is Gone

Ok - very mean I know, but as much as I love my mom - I'm so happy to have my house back. This morning I put all my clothes back in the spare bedroom (our closet isn't big enough!), moved the cat's tree back into the room and got all of the other junk that usually goes in the spare bedroom back where it belongs.

Don't get me wrong - I love visitors, it's just that I really love it when they go home and I can have my house back!

Current Music: A Good Thing - St. Etienne

Seriously - I have no time for this

Ok, I really don't have time for this - I've got a ton of work today and I'm trying to leave early so I can "go do something fun" with my mom before she leaves. But of course I couldn't resist!

Appetizer: How many pieces of jewelry do you wear most days?
11 - 5 earrings, 3 rings, bracelet, watch and belly button ring (sure I'm old, but I've had it a really long time - way before it was cool!)

Soup: What is your favorite instrumental song?
I like a lot of classical music, so I couldn't really narrow it down. I'm not really sure if there are any "popular" songs that are instrumental anyway.

Salad: Who has a last name that you like?
I really liked my maiden name, but if I had to pick a new one I really like Beckham - not because of the Spice Girls reunion, and not because I like either Posh or Beckham, it just sounds good.

Main Course: Name a popular movie you’ve never seen.
That's way to hard - there are tons, but the first two that came to mind were Crash and Fight Club. I know Fight Club is old, but we were just talking about it the other day.

Dessert: Fill in the blank: Nothing makes me ___________ like ____________.
Nothing makes me homesick like talking to my nieces on the phone.

Current Music: Apologize - Timbaland

No time

Mom's in town and I am beat! Since she's been here I've been trying to get to work early (well technically on time) so I can go home early. But trying to get all my work done in 7 hours isn't that easy - and I haven't had any time for my normal web wanderings! It's just no fun.

Once I actually get out of work and get home it's more non-stop, we've been doing stuff every night. I'm just not used to this pace - I like coming home and doing nothing! And don't even get me started on the noise, the dog barks at her all the time and she's talking most of the time. Don't get me wrong - I like talking to my mom and that's what these visits are about, but like I said, I'm used to coming home and doing nothing.

On the bright side, there's only one and a half more days to go, then I can get back to my quiet, sedentary life.

Current Music: The Mating Game - BitterSweet

Super fun!

Ok - I found a cool new toy! Not sure if I'm going to pay to get the professional version yet - but it's still super fun! Gonna go make another one.




Current Music: Hey There Delilah - Plain White T's

Addendum: I should mention that most of the pictures are of me and my older niece the B'Ave, there's also my BIL, sister and younger niece E-dawg.

Happy Friday!

So I stumbled upon a cool blog Friday's Feast - a meme of five questions. Kind of a fun idea - so I'll give it a go today.

Appetizer: Name a funny habit you have.
I twist my wedding rings around my finger when I'm stressed out. (Not very funny, but I can't really think of many habits I've got).

Soup: If you could instantly know how to play a musical instrument, which one would you pick?
Trombone or piano - always loved the trombone for some crazy reason, but the idea of being able to play the piano seems really cool too.

Salad: How long is your hair?
3-4 inches past my shoulders, not sure how long that makes it, but it's not short.

Main Course: When was the last time you forgave someone, and who was it?
I'm never really all that mad at people and I try not to hold a grudge (seems like wasted energy), so I'd have to say a week or two ago I got over being mad at my husband for being a jerk - see, nothing major.

Dessert: What is your favorite kitchen appliance?
Refrigerator - love that it's got all the food in it!

Current Music: Wild is the Wind - The Second Band

First Day of Summer

I should be running around the yard on this beautiful summer morning, wearing not much and screaming "Wah-hoo - summer is here". It is, after all, one of my favorite times of the year. Ever since I was a kid (when summers had even more power over me) I've loved summer, love the weather, love the flowers, love the laid back pace, love the lack of traffic (once all the kids are out of school traffic clears right up) - so many things to love about summer.

So, why am I not doing that? A couple reasons:

1. I'm at work - we can't always be so lucky as to have the first day of summer land on a weekend!

2. I'm listening to sad chick music, and starting off the day listening to sad French music isn't really the way to have a "Wah-hoo" kind of day.

3. It's the coldest day of the week, only 69 degrees - it's the first day of summer and ironically the coldest in a could of weeks!

4. Honestly, there's not much I'm feeling very happy about, between work, home and the impending arrival of my mother - there's not that much to be "Wah-hoo" about. As usual money is tight, and Scott is having trouble finding work (damn the Michigan economy) - so it gets a bit tense for us when it comes time to pay the bills. Of course I haven't managed to clean the house or prepare in any way for my Mom to visit - so that's a pain. We're both worried that if the money situation stays as it is we're going to have to sell the house and give up living here - move somewhere where people have money to spend on home improvement (since both of our careers are linked to the construction industry).

I guess the best plan of attack is to say F**K it and enjoy the summer!

Current Music: Je Suis Venu Te Dire Que Je M'En Vais - Serge Gainsbourg

Cleaning House

I was asked once, what my least favorite household chore was. At the time I said laundry, not doing it - folding it. I truly hate folding laundry.

But now that my house is a mess and I have my mother coming into town I realize I hate it all. It's amazing how gross toilets and showers get, not to mention the dust bunnies that gather everywhere. I could swear that I cleaned just about a week ago - and yet it's a mess again. I don't even have kids to blame the mess on!

Plus it's my mom, if it were my sister or my dad - no big deal. But for my mom I have to CLEAN. The only good news is that as she gets older she doesn't have that same eagle eye she once had. But it still means wiping down all the kitchen cabinets, dusting every possible surface, the list goes on...

So my night is going to be spent fuming over having to clean, sneezing, sweating and generally being miserable so that my house can look spotless for my mother's arrival. Wish I had some laundry fold instead!

Current Music: Beautiful Girls - Sean Kingston

ADD or Alzheimer's?

Not to make light of two very serious illnesses (I have friends and family members that are affected by both - not at the same time - boy that would really suck!), but I think I have a strange combination of both.

I'm having a procrastination day again - no good reason, it's just happening. And I was going to post about my mad skills at procrastination, and I realize that I already posted about it - less than a month ago! So, am I ADD because I can't focus or do I have Alzheimer's because I can't remember? See where I'm headed with this?

It's sad really to be so young and so dumb...

Current Music: Us - Regina Spektor

Fair's fair

It's not that I forgot Father's Day, or that I forgot to call my Dad. It's just that since I forgot to call my Mom on Mother's Day, I knew I'd be in trouble for remembering Father's Day. So I'll call him today and wish him a happy Father's Day, and tell him why I didn't call - and he'll laugh and probably say I was right not to call!

That's the great thing about my dad, if he has expectations, he sure doesn't act like it. Every time I call, he's happy to hear from me, no recriminations for not calling sooner, or returning a call ASAP. Not that I don't love my mom - I do, but there's mom guilt there and that's just not so with my dad (or if there is I don't notice).

Father's day at our house was a low key affair, not having kids makes it not such a big deal for us. I made a card for the kitties and pup to give Scott and when I was at Old Navy on Friday I bought him a new pair of shorts - so he made out well. It was also low key, since we were fairly partied-out by Sunday - not to mention the fact that it was in the mid-80s all day. We got a bit of house cleaning done, for the impending arrival of my mother, but there's still more to do.

BNL update - it was a good concert on Friday evening, totally packed, but fun. Scott and J talked too much and M and I were stuck waiting for margaritas forever, so we missed some of the good songs, but all in all a good time!

Current Music: It's Five O'clock Somewhere - Alan Jackson (well it is Monday!)

BNL!

Very excited today! We're going to see Barenaked Ladies tonight!

I'm not a freaky-super-fan, but I do love those guys. And I love the thought that Scott and I will pile into the car with J&M and head out to spend an evening drunkenly dancing under the stars. As an adult you just don't get enough chances to do that with out ramifications. Most of my time is spent running from work to home (where more work awaits me) - so the thought of letting loose is never really one that I can entertain.

Not that we don't have fun on the weekends, and with summer on the way there are fun days ahead. Maybe this evening is a kick-off of sorts - a beginning to the summer, maybe that's why I'm so looking forward to it? Perhaps I'm getting a bit too deep - probably best to just be shallow and have fun!

Woo hoo - here's to getting drunk and dancing around like an idiot under the stars!!!!!

Addendum: I should mention, it's my parents 39th wedding anniversary today, as well as their dog's 12th birthday today. So cheers Mom and Dad - way to not kill each other after all these years - and Happy Birthday Sassy!

Current Music: Be My Yoko Ono - Barenaked Ladies (getting ready!)

Sad, sad, sad...

I am pitiful! For some insane reason I want another cat! I don't know why, just seems like a good idea. Scott is against it, of course, as are all the other cats I'm sure (though I think I've got the dog on my side) - but I want one none the less.

I want an orange tabby (or maybe a solid grey, but I'm thinking orange), probably short haired and I want to name it Sammy. Sammy, because we already have PB&J and then the final cat will be Sammy (which is what I call sandwiches). Not that it will be the final cat, but we'll go with that so that Scott doesn't stroke out or something.

Since I won't be getting this new cat for a while (a really LONG while if Scott has any say in it), I adopted the super cute flash plug-in to the left. So there's our new kitten!

Seriously, how sad am I?

Current Music: Rehab - Amy Winehouse

Happy Birthday Dad!

This time last year we weren't even sure how many more birthday's my Dad would be having. I don't want to get all maudlin again, but really - this is very big news for us! So Happy 66th Birthday Dad! Here's to many, many more with your old body and new heart!

As an update to my last post, I'm happy to say that the transplant recipient got his new lungs on Friday. I am sorry that the first set of lungs were lost, but I'm pleased that this family has another chance at life with him.

Current Music: Way I Am - Ingrid Michaelson

Tragedy and Thankfulness

I've been following the story of the plane crash in Lake Michigan, the plane was carrying a transplant team from U of M as well as donor organs. Obviously it's a horrible tragedy for those 6 families of those on board. But all I can think about is the people that were unable to receive new organs and their families.

I think about how our family all felt, waiting to hear about a donor for my dad. I remember sitting by the phone, on pins and needles - waiting to hear that the donor heart had arrived and that my dad was going into surgery. I can't imagine the devastation that the transplant patients and families are feeling right now - to find out that you've got a donor only to have an accident like this to happen.

It surprises me how frequently I'm overwhelmed by the feelings I have about my dad's recent heart transplant. Most of the time he's just my dad, I talk to him on the phone all the time - we talk about the weather, the dogs, what the rest of the family is up to - you name it we talk about it. I forget that it's my dad, but with a new heart, and that without that new heart I might not get to talk to him about all those inane things.

When something like this comes along I think "what would have happened if they hadn't found a donor?" Thankfully that wasn't the case, but it leaves me with chills at the prospect.

I guess when those moments happen I should just be thankful that they did find a donor and all is well - and I can have stupid conversations with my dad about the most recent Grey's Anatomy!

Current Music: I Know I Know I Know - Tegan and Sara

Mini Rant!

Seriously - how much porn needs to be on the Internet?!

I was hopping randomly from blog to blog (a favorite past time of mine, when I should be working!), when I was presented with a big fat girl's butt in a thong! YUCK!!!!!

Now, I'm all for porn, if you need it - it's a useful tool. But there really is enough professional stuff out there that you don't need to put it on the top of your blog (especially if you look like the girl I came across)!

That's it - just yuck, not sure I'm in the mood to look at any more random blogs for a bit.

Current Music: Where Does the Good Go - Tegan and Sara

May Round-Up

I found this idea on a favorite blog of mine, the idea being to "round-up" the month by thinking about all the things you did. I've never done it before, but it seems interesting, so here goes.

What books and/or magazines did I read this month?
I always read my Real Simple, Creating Keepsakes, Elle Decor and Entertainment Weekly (guilty pleasure) magazines. But this month I picked up a cool card making magazine and also read through a National Geographic. As far as books go, I read a LOT of books, and none of them were all that memorable, mostly crap mystery novels.

What movies and/or TV shows did I watch this month?
Not much in the way of movies this month, all the good summer stuff only just came out, so I'll have more to report for June I'm sure.

As far as TV goes, I'm a total Tivo addict, so I watch a ton of TV - I guess the high-lights would be all the season finales; Grey's Anatomy, CSI, Desperate Housewives, Lost. I did watch quite a bit of hockey, it is play-off season after all; I watched my beloved Sharks lose to the Red Wings - but then I got to see them fall to the Ducks, so it worked out okay!

What special days did I celebrate and how?
Well, mother's day obviously, and my sister's birthday. For both I did hand-made cards and gifts, then I had to hurry to the post office to get them to California in time! And of course it was Jake and , and George's birthday. Jakey got new treats and some new cat toys, Georgie got a new rawhide bone (I'll have to up-load the pictures, they're a hoot) and a new tug/ball thing.

What gifts did I give and/or receive?
No gifts for me (puppies and kitties don't have opposable thumbs or money). I gave my mom hand-made earrings and my sister got subscription to EW, a scrapbooking tool and a new sauce whisk (I know it's not glamorous, but it's what she wanted).

What illnesses or health concerns did I have?
We were both basically healthy this month, Scott is still having trouble with his heel hurting, but he's managing.

What fun things did I do with my friends and/or family?
We had a bunch of fun this month! We went to a Cinco de Mayo party at R & D's, went out with new friends to the opening of the new wine bar in town, had a wonderful dinner with JC at J & M's, and of course - the second annual "River Crawl" (think pub crawl mixed with a progressive dinner), that was super fun. All in all a great month for playing with friends, of course the fam lives across the nation, so not much with them!

What new foods, recipes or restaurants did I try this month?
A good month for food as well, we tried the new seafood restaurant in town - pretty darn good. We went to the opening night of the new wine bar. And for the River Crawl I made Limoncello (a lemon liquor), goat cheese toasts and a chicken and orzo fritatta all from that show "Everyday Italian" - they all turned out great and everyone loved them!

What special or unusual purchases did I make?
With the demise of the laptop, we had to buy another, not that we had the money. I also got a couple cool new scrapbooking things, a fine point glue pen and white embossing powder (lame? maybe, but I think they're fun!). It's not exactly a purchase, but I designed a desk and had the guys in our shop build it for me, turned out nicely!

What were this month's disappointments?
There were a fair few of those, even for all the fun we had (hopefully it balances out). The laptop was broken by the dog (I helped), the dog chewed our expensive binoculars, we didn't get pregnant (again) this month, Scott's class didn't get enough students so he wasn't able to teach this quarter, our friend's dad died.

What were my accomplishments this month?
The thing I'm most proud of is that I wrote my first column for a local magazine - it will be out in July!

I worked the hardest on the Woman Challenge, a nation-wide challenge to get women walking and exercising more. I found out about it in Real Simple, signed up then managed to get my mom, my sister and a bunch of friends to sign up. The idea is to take 10,000 steps a day, my weekly goals have been 7,000-8,000 steps a day and I've been making it. Extra walks for the dog, more exercise for me!

I also got some scrapbooking done, most of the 2005 holiday as well as some pet pages and St. Patrick's day.

Anything else noteworthy to record?
I guess I should pay more attention to what I do in the month (besides work a lot!).

Current Music: You're So Damn Hot - Ok Go