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Alright — I know some of you have been waiting for it. I have updated May Photos. Check it out here: May 2006 Photos

If you know me, then you know that I take lots of pictures — but isn’t that what new camera’s are for? Also, if you want the full fledged version of a photo for print, then let me know.

Enjoy!

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Look at the difference!
Andrew before at age 13 and now at age 15 (you can see more photos of him in the gallery)

Amazing, isn’t it?

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So updating the photos is what I spent most of today doing. It’s nice and breezy out, and loud because the city is cutting down branches across the street. I wonder if they leave that wood there, I am quite interested in going over and helping myself to a big log. IT might be too heavy though…but what a nice bench it would make for the back yard!

I really don’t want to go back to work tomorrow. I hope it isn’t rainy or sucky. That would make it better I guess. At least they are half days and I actually have both of my two days off to myself until the third week of June! Nephew doesn’t need anyone to hang out with him until then.

Well, I suppose I should go to the store to get some grub and see if they have any CRL. That soaking it in paper towel, with a plastic bag and rubber band is a good idea. I hope it doesn’t eat through it. Hm.. maybe I should test drive it. ALTHOUGH, I seemed to have solved part of the problem by pushing the whole faucet to the left. If it’s pushed overall the way it doesn’t leak. I know it’s quick fix solution…but I like those!

I should sit outside for awhile with some ice tea and work on a letter. Get away from the computer for awhile.

Whatta weekend. I am glad that I have today and tomorrow off, although in reality I kind of wish I had the whole damn week. When I think about it, I think that is what I wanted and tried to push for, but work has been really needy lately, and pushing back just as much to get me in there for my allotted time. I guess it’s time like this that being an LTE sucks. I don’t quite have the freedom to just take a week off and feel entitled to it because I don’t have those kinds of benefits. Plus, since I technically have every other day off …. people think I should shut the heck the up and quite complaining. Well, screw that, it’s my life and I can complain about not having a full, freaking week off if I want too.

Sigh. I am little bothered by how much this is bothering me. I am starting to feel trapped. Maybe I should change my days to be Mon, Tues, Wed, so I can have four days off at a time…ha. Like they would let that happen.

Yeah, so the weekend — the end result is that I have a TON of pictures to go through, edit and organize. I have a few other things I want to do … dangit. One of them I just forgot. I knew I should have written them down last night when I had them in my head. Now I only have one of them left…I hope it comes back. I just wrote it down now… But it’s part of that — if I had a whole week off, I could really do something neat.

Weekend included things like: garage sale, grocery shopping, bbq at brother in laws, Harry Potter and Goblet of Fire, cleaning the gutters, mowing the front and back lawns, bbq and visit at my Dad’s, picking up Andrew, visit to Choka Don at the powwow, wedding fun, inferno stint, brat fest, vegetable pickup, baked a pie, dishes, parade, Anasazi Boys, and watching for deer.

Whew! You would be tired too. I went to bed early last night to read a bit before crashing into sleep and really getting up at 10:00 this morning. Talk about sleeping in! I really haven’t done much now that I am up. To be honest, I don’t want to do much. The only thing that MUST be done today is washing the dishes, thinking of and making dinner, tkd and maybe sparring? Just writing that down feels like an awful lot.

But it’s only 12.30…I have five hours to slack and keep to myself. Maybe even think about uploading photos…but I could do that tomorrow too. Or later today, it really depends on my mood.

oh and we broke down and turned on the central air last night. The house temp was 84F, and the animals were suffering (or so says Tim). So I relented and let him turn it on. Sigh. It was hot, and sleep would have been hard…yet …. it’s heat. It’s warm. It’s so good. It’s all gloomified outside right now and wet, so going outside to hangout is icky.

If it weren’t for the animals I would have let it continue to be hot for a few more weeks before turning on the central air.

Yesterday I had the equivalent of a full time job! Yeah, I was there all day helping to move our office from one building to another. The best “tidbit” of the day came from one of the movers.

You see these movers managed to take ALL FREAKING day to do two loads. The first load had desks, and they had to pack up computers and what not, and once they got there (45 min late) they managed to get it packed up and moved in 2.5 hours. Now the second load was five carts that were all on … well carts, with wheels. All they needed was to be rolled to the elevator, pushed into a truck and driven over, wheeled off the truck, into another elevator and BAM…done. How long did this take? If you guess 4.5 hours you are right! If I was paying these movers I would have hounded them the entire time, but of course since it was hour based and university funded…I guess they can take all the time in the world.

Near the end I said “Finally, I can get home. It’s been a long day.”

“Yeah?” said Mover Guy 2

“Yeah,” I reply with an exaggerated sigh, “I’m only part-time. I am here as long as you guys take.” (Yes, that was a not so subtle jab)

“What else is there to do?” asked Mover Guy 2

“Well, there are dogs to walk and dinner to think of and make, house to clean…” I answer, thinking of all the crap I DO have to do when I get home.

“Ha,” he Mover Guy 2 replies “Forget about it! Just let your Mom do it.”
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I was so shocked; I had nothing to say as he left the room. My Mom? Ha ha ha ha. I sure as hell don’t feel like I look young enough to still be living at home.

In other news, my hands are itchy a lot lately. Scratchy scratchy. Everything seems to be the cause.

My bathroom faucet is leaking again. I know I need to replace the washer…but I can’t get the screw/bolt thing off. It’s like super glued shut. Right now I am treating it with vinegar in hopes that it will eat away at the calcium and let me loosen it. I’m gonna give it a few hours and if it doesn’t work, then I will try liquid wrench. If that don’t work? I am gonna be replacing a broken faucet. I hope. Because it maybe all the beating in the world wouldn’t get that thing loose. I know, you are sick of hearing about my faucet issues…but trust me, you aren’t as sick of them as I am.

I was invited to a birthday party for a girl turning 13 years old! Ha ha. She’s in my TKD class, and is the reason I started sparring again. She is just SO into it and I can’t help but to encourage such enthusiasm. I asked what they were doing this weekend to celebrate her birthday and she said they were going to Ultrazone with friends, and having ice cream cakes. I said “oh ice cream cake? That sounds great!” — which in turn brought about “you should come!”

We figured out on Tuesday that they live a few blocks away, so it’s entirely possible. I said I’d stop by around 7 tomorrow for some cake. J
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Last night SIL called to say that her boss was going to have a BBQ on Monday. Well the boss is who bil Phil and his wife, Kandace live – so it’s practically a bbq at their house! Awesome. I was starting to lose hope of a Monday bbq. Of course, a bbq at Jessie’s cabin would have been far cooler and more fun, but one has to make do with what one has been offered.

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We are going to ride bike to the Alliant Energy place for a brat tomorrow and also to pick up our vegetables. We got a pack of herbs last time that need to be planted. One of them is starting to turn yellow…I think that happens when all the nutrients are sapped out of the little bit of dirt they are in…right? I was going to plant them in my flower garden that is probably not there anymore because it all probably washed away in the rain we have had, but Tim said that the rabbits would eat the herbs. Is that true? WOULD the rabbits eat my herbs? I thought they only ate lettuce and carrots and stuff. I need to do something because they are fading…I guess I could go and get some dirt from the garden, put it in a pot and then transplant that…we don’t really need super fancy potting soil.

On Sunday we are going to visit my Dad near Neillsville, but first picking up my little bro in Warrens. Ugh…I wonder how big he is now. I mean, we were both the same height the last time I saw him…and I have a feeling those times are long gone. L The Red Eagle men tend to all be very, very tall. The shortest is my brother Doug who is only 6’ 1” (and you can be darn sure I remind him of how short he is too). Then there is shrimpy ole me clocking in at 5’ 8.5” – pft. It’s a good thing shoes usually bring me up to at least 9…sometimes a respectable 10.

Today though…today I need to pay bills. Important bills like mortgage, cable and cell phone. I was thinking about doing some garage sales…but I dunno. I think I would rather take a shower, get dressed and figure out what fabulous thing I am going to do with my hair and figure out an outfit for a wedding tonigh. Which is kind of hard because Tim wants to walk to the location – about 40 minutes away, so I would need to wear sensible shoes. But I need to walk the Pludog before all of that.

Hm. You can rest assured that I will be taking my camera with me…a camera that incidentally needs it’s batteries recharged…. Good because I was beginning to think May was going to be a boring photo month.

AND…I don’t have to work again until next Thursday! So that means there will be plenty of time for me to get these photos online next week.

Okay, I should really get down to paying bills before the mail man comes.

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Oh I watched a movie last night – Born into Brothels — really good documentary. I highly recommend it. I really enjoyed this little film

Not a SINGLE email my friends. How freaking sad.

Yes, I realize I might a part of that “problem” but then again, am I really? I mean, I guess I would have accepted updated websites/journals/blogs … but even that is very scant.

I am quick sick of all of you thinking you have LIVES to live!

And she’s back. Btw, I forgot my list. Oops.

two for six dollars, 12 quart (thats six little caplets of goodness): tangerine strawberry with calcium, and the other is just plain old ice tea.

10 pack of bratwurst
pack of wheat brat buns
loaf of multigrain bread
blueberries
strawberries
four pink lady apples
two braeburn apples
one red delicious
two bananas
big bag of baby carrots
one mango
quart of skim milk
quart of soy milk
a box of nutty nuggets
Mini word search magazine
peanut butter cookie Luna bar
big bag of peanut butter flavored rawhide pieces
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Total cost: $37.61
The most expensive items were the brats, and pluto’s rawhide peices…but both seem to last forever.

I am trying to remember if there was ever a time I posted more about other stuff than just the boring every day crap I do. If there was such a time, let me know.

I babysat this morning and realized as I was riding home that I forgot my hoodie. Nephew was in a bad mood this morning, so I was quite happy when he finally cried himself to sleep and I could sneak off when Sarah got home (and he was still sleeping). Damn. My next nephew sitting session is going to be June 23 or something because next week I am maybe toddlersitting Leta and Mina. I hope it’s nice, I think I would want to go for a walk… and the two weeks after that the gym is on a bit of a summer break. I wonder what Nephew will look like after a whole month has passed. Probably a lot bigger, talking, going out for coffee and playing darts at Genna’s. I mean, isn’t that what six month + old kids do?

[I'm waiting for DH to tell me what to get from the store -- keep in mind I am on my bike, so whatever I get has to be life or death important....]

I came home and worked on the flower garden a bit. As in a hoed it, raked it and planted a whole bunch of flower seeds. I haven’t yet watered it because I am rather hoping it is going to rain tonight and save me the work. If it doesn’t then I’ll do it later. Although I am not looking forwarding to hooking up the hose and probably getting wet in the watering phase…wait, I could have DH do that…he was muttering about spending some time doing yard work…

[Still waiting...so far I have: apples, bananas, bread, milk, cereal]

Then I showered, started a load of whites, and sat outside drinking a tall glass of iced tea and working on a letter. Now I should probably get dressed for public, as opposed to dressed for home, and ride to the grocery store, come back, put it away and then walk the dog before I head off to TKD, and home and then sparring for the first of two nights this week. Somewhere in between there, dinner should be made. I can’t keep eating chocolate cake in place of every meal. Chocolate cake – no matter how delicious – is not like a slimfast bar. It cannot substitute for every meal.

Sigh. Still no answer from Tim. Sheesh. You think he’s like WORKING or something instead of waiting breathlessly for word from me.

Well, you saw my list…I’ll tell you what I actually got when I get back.

I should clarify — someone else other than Heather, who doesn’t have a grill, should invite Tim and I over for a grill out on Monday.

I had a really good weekend starting with a Laura Appreciation Day last Friday. Those usually happen when I start to feel really taken for granted, grouchy and overall pissy about life and want to quit. But I guess life didn’t want that for me this weekend.

First after work I met up with Hilary who suprised called me asking if I wanted to have lunch and shop. Two things I did want to do, but I had to settle for one. Although I did get a cookie at the Hippy co-op. We went to Old Navy and I got one of those brightly colored, over the shoulder sack like bags that I have wanted for some time, a on sale brown with flowers do rag, and sunglasses that I paid more than a dollar for. I think the sunglasses are really worth it. They are comfortable and since it has been years and years since I paid for quality sunglasses, I have been taking good care of them. I do wish they had a little more yellow tint to them instead of all amber — but I guess I’ll get used to it.

After that I stopped at a few garage sales on my way home and got three fabulous scarves and a really nice queen sheet set. Then I played God of War until Tim came home. When he did…he had a gift bag. Inside was the MOST adorable card I have ever seen (and sweetest) and …. a mp3 player with an action jacket so I can wear it on my arm, and protect the little thing from getting scratched and stuff. IT’s SOOOO cool. I spent a good portion of yesterday putting good music on it. I wore it to work this morning and I got here in 30 minutes, I had a great workout, and it was fun and I felt super cool.

Saturday Tim and I went to Kennel Days in Lake Geneva to walk dogs. It was a beautiful day to walk them — although I was suprised by how many dogs were pooping out by the second lap. I managed to get in four quality dog walks, and I think Tim did about the same. Afterward we came home, and rode bike over to pick up our veggie box. I stopped at a thrift sale on the way back and picked up red curtains for the office and a friendship bracelet how to book for 10 cents. Cool! Then I washed the dishes and made an amazing dish out of nothing followed by strawberry shortcake (because we had leftover strawberries that needed to be used).
Tim got a weed hound and was outside hounding weeds for a good portion of Saturday. I decided to take a nap instead. That evening we chanced getting wet and took Pluto to the dog park. We were the only ones there! I have never been to the dog park and been the only people there the entire time. We managed two laps before Pluto pooped out and we left. Of course as we were leaving a woman with four dogs was coming in. Eh, Pluto didn’t need to smell other dog butts anyway. Besides he got a trip to the dog park without having to wear his muzzle the whole time. Lucky dog.

Saturday night we had breakfast for dinner. Tim made the most amazing scrambled eggs with fresh ramps and chives and I mad the worst most wonderful pancakes with homemade syrup (corn syrup with maple). I watched a movie and cut paper while Tim played video games in the office. I stayed up late! I haven’t gone to bed at 1:00 since the last time I went to the Inferno. It’s weird to realize that…

Sunday I slept in while Tim went to the skate park with Oliver. I got up, made some coffee, showered and putzed. I cleaned the kitchen and living room and spent a lot of time putting music on my new MP3 player. Heather came over around 3.30 and we went for a walk. I suggested we try that french bakery on Milwaukee, so we walked over. We had five minutes to spare before they closed by got an iced coffee, tea, a flakey bun (I forget what it was called) and a scone. After he rung us up, the teenage dude said he threw in a free scone. I thought he meant that he forgot to charge me, but 10 minutes later, seated on a park bench I saw that he meant a whole nother scone! Man, it was one of the best scones ever … not as good as this place in Evanston Il…but pretty darn close. After we polished off a mid afternoon snack we took a rambing walk around Radar Hill. Apparently it used to be an old frisbee golf course…but was so much fun to walk around in. I did a tick check afterward and was clear — so not only did we get great exercise in, but I also go no ticks. I hate those little buggers.
Sunday night was pretty slow. I watched the series finale to Charmed, Tim made a fish with sorrel sauce dinner and steamed asparagus…AND….AND! He went out and bought a chocolate cake!

If you have even talked to me in person in the last week then you will have known that I have been hankering for a piece of chocolate cake every single day. He got some AND he got vanilla soy ice cream to go with it! How awesome is that? Is he not the best darling ever? I mean, like Darling of Year kind of darling.

OH and Amy stopped by with a piece of apple pie. IT was good…

The swap is going to be on Saturday June 10th. Bring stuff over and we’ll share.

I also might have said I would bbq with Heather on Memorial Day but I am thinking I might have to back out of that. I have been doing too much planning lately. I think I would prefer to just be invited over to a Memorial Day BBQ. (hint hint)

EDIT: I should clarify — someone else other than Heather, who doesn’t have a grill, should invite Tim and I over for a grill out on Monday.

You ever have on of those days where you don’t feel like you got much done, even though you did? I thought I would have the whole day to myself…my precious Thursday. However, ten minutes after I kicked Tim out of the house the phone rang. Brother in law Ben was in town for a job interview and wanted to do lunch afterward.

So I got Tim on the horn and we arranged it to be so. Before Ben picked me up though, I wrote a letter to Shane, and card to my Mom and Josh, and washed the dishes, showered, dressed and even combed my hair.

We had the buffet at Pizza Hut. It was okay. I like salads. I don’t like dessert pizza though.

In other news, my Mom has been diagnosed with dymentia. She’s only 56!

Hot dog did I get in a lot of “movement” quota today.

–mowed the front lawn
–walked the dog quickly (both lawn and dog done in those brief moments between rain showers)
–taekwondo class
–walking home from taekwondo because someone forgot to pick me up (good thing it wasn’t raining then)
–sparring in Sun Prairie with Misty Mountain Dude

I was my pretty typical nervous nancy at trying new things — a little known fact? Maybe? I mean, sure it looks like I do lots of stuff, and I guess I do. But when it comes to doing something where there are “rules” then I get nervous about breaking them. Maybe it comes from being part of a culture that relishes “do’s and don’t” and taboos.

Anyway, all the folks at Kicks Unlimited in Sun Prairie were SUPER nice, and I didn’t get hurt. I also got a chance to spar lots of different people, so I would have to rate tonight a success. It really helps to have a sparring buddy.

In other news — Christian and Cecci where here on Sunday and Monday for a visit. It was great! On Sunday we had breakfast at the Fairoak Diner…on Fairoak. Our first time there, the food was pretty good and the prices were reasonable. Later that night, Cecci and I made a vegetable curry and MAN! that curry rocked. I think I am getting the swing of it. In fact, today for lunch I had curry from a resturant and realized that my curry was WAY better. That hardly…okay, has never happened before. In any case, I forgot to take pictures until the very end…so there is a shot of them in my front yard. Pretty much the same kinds of shots with Callie and Jason the week before.

Uhh..and Saturday…what did I do on Saturday….hm. * tap tap * AH yes, we cleaned, did some chores and played video games. Really — this God of War is pretty awesome. I could have done without the virtual sex, but I know that is probably what made gajillions of teenage boys … er…and maybe adults…love it.

Speaking of which…I wouldn’t mind getting a quick…nah. It’s too late and I gotta work tomorrow. More stupid rain means riding the stupid bus.