Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Vacationing with Sunni for a few days! I'm going to be spoiled with the temporary relocation to town.

Monday, July 27, 2009

I went back to Art on the Rocks yesterday. Justification - I needed the exercise. ha! So off to it with a friend and her neighbor. Spent a little - just a little on jewelry - imagine that! A couple of pieces that go with things I already have.

Found my parking gate card this morning!!! There was no way I was going to pay the enormous amount of money for a replacement. I feared it ended in a bag that I threw away, but no the little monster squeezed itself under the amp under the passenger seat. In the meantime, my car is a bit cleaner than usual. You can see the seats! Now I just need to get all of the teeny copper Cash hair off of them. Oddly there isn't a piece of Mooch Landcruiser blonde fur. Which brings me to the next point, I'm seriously considering a dog again. That'll be another post for the future.

Looooooong day. Life is crawling lately. Today, I've been on fury mode and have completed many projects. Of course, I'm multi-tasking at the moment. Typing this, listening to EMS recorded reports and taking notes on those that need follow-up.

I finished second coating my china hutch last evening. I tore it apart the other night out of sheer frustration and needing something to do. One of the doors seems bowed now and I haven't a clue what that is all about? I changed out all of the hardware to nickel. Last night I looked at the ceiling fan and thought well maybe this evening I'll paint its blades the deep anthracite.

It's not that I relish doing all this stuff. You know, it is rather amazing what a person can do out of sheer necessity. I even used a shovel and disposed of some mice in traps last week. I have NEVER been able to do that, but after days of it nagging in my head and the smell of dead mice for way too long, I finally realized no one else was going to take care of it. Poof! Done.

Talk with you later.

Sunday, July 26, 2009

It's rainy and cold today.  Blaghhhhhhhh!

Briefly walked around Art on the Rocks yesterday.  I cannot have the temptation to spend any money so I'm limiting my focus and time on anything that makes me go down that road.

A friend of mine came to town - totally unexpected and what a wonderful surprise.  We spent time together yesterday and it was as though years had not passed.  Those unexpected things really punctuate life don't they?!

I finally caved and put myself on Facebook.  Too many people sending me requests.  The last time I caved like this, I ended up with titanium drilled in my leg.

Sandi's surprise retirement party was last weekend at L'Attitudes.  I love that place.  Their wine glasses are the best in town.  Right weight, no weighty lip.  Low, leather couches by the brick and windows facing the lake.  Natural wood.  High ceiling.  I could live there.  It's my style.  I hadn't seen Trina in a few years and DJ even longer than that.  Trina is in the Twin Cities staying home with the kids.  Sort of surprising.  DJ is living in Colorado - golf and skiing.  No surprise there.  :)

Mom's birthday was last week and the Longhini gang along with Gina and her Thursday liquid lunch gals all met at HotPlate.  We painted pottery dishes for my mom and she'll pick them up this Tuesday.  Sandi had a sun/moon, Gina and the gals made seagulls (it's their mascot), Dom & DJ worked together on a mountain peak landscape, and the rest were very nicely patterned.  My design?  There wasn't one.  Only freaking odd duck of the group.  I layered a passionate deep purple on top of scarlet base.  Then popped it with a feather brush of blue and sponged a tidbit of flare orange. Finished by flicking smile yellow off a brush that sprayed over the rest.  Yep - no neat pattern there.

Enjoyed a delish feta burger and Oberon atop the Landmark last night.  The woman's restroom up there - well, it's practically like an outdoor bathroom overlooking the lake.  I've always wanted an outdoor shower.  Wouldn't that just be the coolest?!!!

Off to a friends and then home.  Might even have a fire in the fireplace.  It is that icky outside.  I started cleaning my car the other day.  Still haven't found my car parking card to get in the work lots.  Ugh.  It's a day that I could bake and cook my heart out!  Find your creative release...

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Quotes say it all right now...

If you're going through hell, keep going. ~ Winston Churchill

Compassion is a call, a demand of nature, to relieve the unhappy as hunger is a natural call for food. ~ Joseph Butler

Many people will walk in and out of your life, but only true friends will leave footprints in your heart. ~ Eleanor Roosevelt

We must embrace pain and burn it as fuel for our journey. ~ Kenji Miyazawa

In the End, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends. ~ Martin Luther King, Jr.

Every evening I turn my worries over to God. He's going to be up all night anyway. ~ Mary C. Crowley

Saturday, July 11, 2009

Mind and spirit whipped.  Took some time off from work to start sorting out my head.  :)

At a friend's bonfire late (I am a bonfire junkie) last night and then wide awake until mid-morning.  I cannot figure out why this bod never just sleeps in!  Wonder if I'll be able to catch the Madagascar Penguins on Nick?  Yes, I watch that cartoon whenever possible.  Just add that to the strangeness of my life.

Party at the neighbors today.  They are absolutely wonderful people.  I'm bringing grilled vegetables in balsamic, and I think I'll try Tiramisu.  I haven't used the trifle bowl yet so by happenstance I spotted ladyfingers at the grocery store.  Couldn't pass up one of those little Oberon party kegs.  Really - just for the picture on the outside.  ha!

Fireworks tonight.

I'll fit it all in one way or another.

Windows are open - there's a breeze through the freshly cleaned house.  Happy summer everyone.


Saturday, July 4, 2009

Look at the time!  Nope - not at Starbucks.  I found a temperamental, new sweet spot in the house!

I got burned today.  No, not literally - although that would make sense on this kind of holiday.  Actually last year this time I was doing everything I could to stop a person from burning himself along with calming their enraged neighbor.  Beverages and fireworks just don't mix.  Back to present time, I made plans to do things today and was thinking how cool finally a holiday that would be fun!  Rather excited that it was going to be a day that I enjoyed instead of always doing for others. Well, that fell apart.   Anti-climatic, I ate some chips and a few smoked oysters tonight.  Not even any beer in the house to go with!   Then fell asleep to the drone of a 24/7 jewelry sales tv channel.  Listened to the distant booms of fireworks earlier and I'm wide awake now - figures.

The bright spot of the day was being allowed to make lemonade from lemons as I borrowed Cash-Man-Du for the Dog Dash run/walk.  Look at me - do you honestly think I "dash" anywhere?  Apparently, Cash sees the world through pink-colored lenses because we did 2.5 miles in 34 minutes including two stops for him to do a little business.  Considering that I did some light jogging the morning previous (before 7am, I will add!), this fast walk escapade wasn't all that hip - though, that is what was the sorest.  There was a lot of commotion, other dogs, kids and more.  My gut said he wouldn't have an issue with any of that as he knows better than to try more than a sniff with me.  But just in case, we started last.  He motored right through them all with no hesitation and he made it crystal clear that he's not used to being last.  What a ham at the finish - his schmoozing surprised me!  We met a visitor to the area whose sister breeds Vizslas in New Jersey, including grand champions that she named.  Their family has always taken the ones her sister has not been able to immediately place.  She remarked on Cash's great looks and temperament and wanted to know where I got him....ahhh, I stole him.  :)  A very nice conversation about the breed ensued and then upon leaving she said thanks for bringing him, he enjoyed what you did.  What a kind gesture.

Now if I could get some zzz's, I might be able to get a brisk walk in tomorrow morning.  Tomorrow afternoon I have to work the rescue truck again at a local celebration.  Bringing a chair and there should be good live music.  Hopefully no lost children.  They always seem to find me.

Hope your summer celebration was a sweet one for you!