March? How about November...and May

Gotcha on the calendar for March T. I should look up NASPA, but shoot me some dates...I should be golden.

November child (you, Ms. NYC) it is what it is. Alas. 30 though eh? Are we REALLY that old? Come on now...

I should totally blog more often. Whatever. Yes. I'm on the whatever kick because Alex is back in my life. For the fleeting glimpse of a moment. I think the ball is back in my court and I was supposed to email him back about my life or something. It is great enough that he's on facebook. Dare I require him to catch up via these ramblings? I'm totally not that self-important. Not. at. all.

So, where were we? Since I don't give you much by way of photos anymore. Or words for that. So I think you deserve some blog clips eh? I get in the habit of clipping lots of other blogs so let me give ya a few categories of stuff I loved of late and have. at. it.

Quick life update:
Liisa is going to be breaking up terrorist cells (smile)
I love watching him network and be a caregiver.
We are okay. Better than okay. Staying in Seattle. Sorry mom.
Sorry mom x2. Cause your sister's baby daddy is a h.a.m.
h.a.m.
My prayers and thoughts are with you - especially after watching the Office and thinking of you.
I love the folks I work with. Pure and simple. It feels so good.
Of course I need a Benz. Uh huh.
I like stacks of paper that are organized
I LOVE scrapbooking. Still. Unconditionally.

Categorically speaking:

Great, timely, quote
Techy stuff (not an iPhone, promise)
Scrap love
more scrap loving
and even more scrap loving
blackwhite 10,000 men of Harvard (smile)
fun time waster
another quote that really got me through
I totally get to be part of this...wow!
why I still want a sewing machine
fun with others' photos
just in case you thought black folks didn't get married (LOOK! It is gorgeous!)
camera + games = fun!
why politics doesn't have me cycnical anymoreyet
one of the best movies I saw this year
why life is so easy as a supervisor (embrace it)
one day...I will make them (the cupcakes...the cupcakes...cute kid though)
coolest wedding theme ever!
I love you mom...I miss you granny
I love my finance geek for ensuring that I understood every word of this

Way too much information

Hanging out on Chris J's blog again (well, if 42 seconds can be "hanging out" anywhere...speed reading is probably contributing to my splitting headaches as of late). Check out her answers here and get to know way too much about me here:

1. What time did you get up this morning? actually out of bed? 8:17
2. Diamonds or pearls? Diamonds from him
3. Last movie you saw at a cinema? Beverly Hills Chihuahua
4. What is your favorite TV show? Amazing Race
5. What do you usually have for breakfast? Breakfast? What is that?
6. What is your middle name? Super top secret. I don't even think my hubby really knows
7. What food do you dislike? Most meat. Texture issues.
8. What is your favorite CD at the moment? CDs...not the $$$ kind?
9. What kind of car do you drive? Don't hate on me playas...I get around.
10. Favorite sandwich? Fried bologna with lots of mayo. Psyche! I grew up on those joints though...it's been a while. Really though...BLTs...I know I know.
11. What characteristic do you despise? Despise is kinda harsh. I don't cotton much to victims who bring it on themselves. And psychopaths. But they can't really help that they're crazy so that's not really fair.
12. Favorite item of clothing? his Penn State sweatpants
13. If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation, where would you go? Africa
14. Are you an organized person? I've got a lot of you fooled that's for sure.
15. Where would you retire to? with him? Jamaica of course (smile)
16. What was your most recent memorable birthday? I don't remember (smile).
17. What are you going to do when you finish this? scrap and keep reading
18. Farthest place you are sending this? You tell me. Folks from all over check in here.
19. Person you expect to send it back first? not a soul. I don't do that chain mail gig
20. When is your birthday? December 4
21 . Morning person or a night person? neither. just struggling to be an awake person lately.
22. What is your shoe size? 10 (9 if they are REALLY cute and worth it)
23. Pets? I should check the garage...Robert's been home alone lately.
24. Any new and exciting news you'd like to share? ***GRIN*** I plead the fifth.
25. What did you want to be when you were little? an astronaught. Then Challenger blew up. A geneticist. Then I went to Cornell. a Public Health Officer then I got tired of school. a crusader for higher education access then I got a clue. I'm still little and still trying to be big. I'll let you know when I grow up how it all turned out.
26. How are you today? exhausted but so much better in this moment
27. What is your favorite flower? anything he brings me home. He knows me so much better than I know myself there
28. What is a day on the calendar you are looking forward to? May 13, 2009
29. What are you listening to right now? the hum of my computer
30. What was the last thing you ate? chips and salsa (I needed salt like no one's business)
32. If you were a crayon, what color would you be? figuratively or literally? Orange
33. How is the weather right now? Perfect fall day
34. Last person you spoke to on the phone? Publishers' Clearing House
35. Favorite soft drink? Sprite
36. Favorite restaurant? Sushiland
37. Hair color? Almost black again (winter time and all)
38. What was your favorite toy as a child? Barbies
39. Summer or Winter? Both - love Seattle Summers, but am a winter baby at heart
41. Chocolate or Vanilla? Duh (smile) Vanilla
42. Coffee or tea? Chai lattes
43. Do you want your friends to email you back? Uh. Yeah. Alex!
44. When was the last time you cried? almost yesterday afternoon. headache and all
45. What is under your bed? uhmmm...mom...turn away (smile)
46. What did you do last night? Fall asleep on the pre-married make out couch
47. What are you afraid of? him being unhappy
48. Salty or sweet? both, but not at the same time. It cycles like everything in my life
49. How many keys on your key ring? SIX I think. And two keyless fobs. And a Texas charm. Of course.
50. How many years at your current job? none. 82 days and counting. Wow. Almost 100 days. Wow.
51. Favorite day of the week? Sushi Friday of course.
52. Do you make friends easily? Nope
53. How many people will you send this to? I like the friends I have so no one.
54. How many people will reply? A few blog readers will keep it alive *RIGHT**?
55. Do you like finding out all this stuff about your friends? Not really since we all share the same brain and don't need a bazillion questions to know that hood Liisa probably loves fried bologna sandwiches just as much as I do. And. What.

I Missed This

So I started up again (smile). Want to see?

7 years ago

I was married. I was worried about the overdue rent payment. I was walking across campus to work. The air was absolutely silent--except for that radio the groundskeepers were gathered around. He said "yeah, something about a helicopter and the pentagon".

I was living in Las Cruces, NM. The morning was crisp--it was going to be a hot day. But it was fall and football was on and I remembered thinking "These are my favorite kinds of days." The gist of my other thoughts were "Hmmm...how many groundkeepers does it take to mow two blades of grass?"

In the Educational Services building, there was no one outside. Before I entered the building, I could see everyone gathered around the tvs. That's odd. It wasn't registration season and I couldn't imagine why anyone would want to stand around watching streaming class lists cross over a blue screen in unreadable white text. The gist of my other thoughts were "What in the world?? I didn't know we had cable in this building!"

It was just so quiet. Even the birds were silent. Which was saying a lot by that building where I always ducked for fear of being splashed on the way in.

She turned away bleary eyed. I saw a hole in a tower and smoke pouring out. They were talking about a plane. "Huh. That's interesting. I wonder what is going on there?" I thought I'd have to call someone later that day and ask them about the craziness going down in their city. I graduated from Cornell--land of "I'm from New York" smart kids. I was President for two years of my business frat. I knew people in NY. I knew people.

I sat at my desk. Silence for maybe a couple of minutes, then the phones started ringing off the hook. It was recruiting season so almost everyone was out of the office. I was on my way out at the end of the week. The Assistant Director called to say she was stuck in Dallas. Except with her accent, it sounded like she was saying she was stuck in Dulles. My heart dropped.

I could hear the TV in the hall. I wasn't watching it. I looked up to look at something else just in time to see the second plane crash into the tower. I fell back into my seat like a ton of bricks. I thought "What the [really really bad curse word] is going on here?!" And everyone in my office came straight back to me.

"Do you know anyone there?" "Do you have any family?" "Shouldn't you call someone?" "Can you get through?" "Try email instead!"

No one was answering of course. Phones or email. My mind was numb and I couldn't think to know if I knew anyone. My boss made me go home. I started to walk but about halfway home, I saw a familiar car. It was my husband coming to get me. He's from Upstate NY. His dad drives truck, sometimes in the city.

We went home and watched the tv all day long. It was one of the only days ever that I didn't wake up and turn on the Today show as I got ready. I couldn't move from that couch. For like two days.

I remember walking outside tonight 7 years ago, looking up at the sky and asking why.
I remember my first recruitment where the teacher asked me if it was okay if she watched the tv in the back of the room while I talked.
I remember going to the football stadium and feeling so safe among my fellow Americans--not just US Americans (I was in Cruces) but my fellow Americans of every stroke and color.
I remember not having the courage to look at any of the lists of names, then or now. I don't want to know, I cannot know.
I remember years later finding a picture from my first trip to NYC a few years earlier and of course they were part of the skyline--I took an upshot trying to see the top.

Now, I remember last year, and maybe the year before, riding by that hole. Being grotesquely fascinated with it like I can be with scars that take a long time to heal. Completely blocking out any memories of how or why, but instead focusing on what. That hole in the ground.

Now, I remember riding the train from Jersey into that hole.

Now, I remember how I felt connected to the globe back then and I want that feeling back--for good reasons, not for fear.

Now I remember just how important it is for me to get off my [lot less nice word for behind] and do something.

Now I remember. Now I remember.

Now that Crazy has left the building

And entered the political arena instead...

Like you knew I wouldn't. So much going on in life. And really not much at all. So pictures are in order (yeahhh...pictures!!)
So just like in your life, lots gone on in my life since 10 years ago when I last visited this here blog.

The Olympics hit Beijing. I've been to Beijing. I can't believe we didn't boycott Beijing. I gotta give China props for running the table and knowing where the house is weak though. Strategy will win every time.

I got to talk to my little brother again. Word on the street is he'll be out of country again soon. Word on the street street is that he might do the unthinkable in November. Have not had the courage to ask him that cause I don't want to have to beat him. They sure do brainwash em good in the military. I'm just saying. And yeah...like I can talk about my bruthas cause of tone, I can also talk about the Generation Kill kids cause they're my own too. Not those specific kids, but almost everyone in my family. So yeah. November matters to me.

I STILL get calls with them trying to figure out fault. Really already. I didn't run him down. The dent is/was on the BACK of my car. On the right. Where he was coming into my lane. And tried to run me into the wall. Why does everything have to be so shades of gray all the time?

I like Palm Dessert. Not nearly as much as the OC. Okay...more than. But I think it might be time for another So Cali fix. Craziness of the past weekend all considered.

Kinda thankful I didn't get to go to Denver for the DNC after all. I woulda passed out amongst all those bodies. Yeah I would have.

I miss my pho. And now that we're on the Sushi Friday kick, I can't even "leave early" and go to lunch there before dinner. Sushi friday rocks though because I get to go with him (smile).

Speaking of him. That was him almost two months ago to the day. And to think he was breathless then.

I loved our reception. Mostly because I love candles and all that fun stuff. If you still have not seen the slide show, you totally have to hit that up.

I just really like the innocence of this picture. Makes me feel pure. New beginnings of a bird nest and all. I kinda feel like doing some nesting lately. Just purged my scrap room. That totally felt good.

Never thought I would see (and pay for) $4 gas.

Talk about feel good, it has been blazing in Seattle lately (high 70s, 80 in my work spot). I know, no self respecting El Pasoan should say "blazing" and "80" in the same sentence but we ain't got no central air. I wish I could splash through the water like them boys. How fun!

My fave time of year is upon us. Can't wait to go get more pumpkins!

Question and Answer time

Let's see if I can even remember all of them. Nope. So I get to ramble through what I remember.

My cutie pie nephew. (Who is the cutie little man in the limo)
Cause they're professionals. (How did your photographers capture all that emotion)
I threatened them. (How did you keep the girls on lockdown)
I plead the fifth (What was so funny in that one picture)
I'm going to go with "I don't know" (What was the little dude drinking?)
$15 - Pike Place Market (Amazing bouquet. Bet you had to pay a grip for that)
Co-Maids of Honor (You only had two chics with you. Who was MOH?)
My life. My joy (Who is the cutie in the wedding party--your pick as to which one *smile*)
I've got connex like that. Well he does. (Where in the heck did you find a wheat field in Downtown Seattle?)
Ivory w/champagne trim (So did you tell the white lie after all?)

Those are your ten for right now. More to come. Some day.

Totally excited that I get to go and hang with Liisa this Saturday. I can't wait. Wish money grew on trees so that I could help those who really need it. Mom, you always come through. I love you to pieces. Wish I had your new phone number (hint, hint). I FINALLY have some sense of calm at understanding just what it is that I do for a living right now. Thursday night...I'm going to miss the Olympics when they are over. Watched Generation Kill last night. Maybe he will have another episode for me tonight. Sick. Man. And speaking of sick men doing stuff for me, I love him so friggin' much. So much. Thanks for taking it to the bookcase. I promise I'll exchange the other one. Sometime. Soon.

If I could...

...I would. Do it all over again. Yes. Even the planning. Link is in the previous post. You don't REALLY have to search for it...towards the bottom.

Three hours I will never get back

That's about what I feel about tonight. From waiting for 17 minutes (I kid you not) for the obnoxious woman to pull the frig out of her parking spot that I was going to wait and be patient and slow down no matter what to wait for. To waiting (and reading a whole story on how Mrs. Edwards could live through what this newly married woman just feels is the most unlivable humiliation in the world--thank you People. Or Us. Or whatever rag was on the aisle) for another 9 minutes while the checker with the woman in front of me slowly (very) checked through multiples (many of them) in this woman's basket by scanning each one. Separately. Some of them twice. All to get her 9 bazillion items scanned in. All so that I could get my one item scanned in (that will come back. Wait for it). To being checked at the door of Wal Mart of all places (because yeah, the only people stealing stuff out of the Renton Wal Mart are the sisters with a big old bookcase in the cart--receipt in hand). To not being able to call into the conference call and freaking out. To the point of making it home from said Renton Wal Mart in 11 minutes. And not speeding (well, not that much) the whole way. To getting home, calling into the new conference call number to find myself the second person online and the meeting cancelled because no one could call in. To finally sitting down to put together said bookcase from tonight's purchase (and Sunday's purchase with him in tow). Which meant I had to drag it UP three flights of stairs to my scrap room hallway.

Sat down. Ready with the directions. Had to go back down three flights of stairs to get screwdrivers and forget the hammer. Was humming along. Then for whatever reason, stuff stopped working right. Lack of Hammer I think. But since I used a much gentler tennis shoe with a much softer swing no problem right? Wrong. Flip shelves over. Crack. Loud crack. As in broken bolt thingy crack. As in "are you friggin' KIDDING ME?!" roared crack. As in Lost. My. Mind. crack.

As in "I just spent three hours that I will never get back". On nothing but crap tonight.

Happy productivity. At least I got my ballot in. Supposedly. It's in a drop box. I don't trust ballot drop boxes.

So to make myself happy, I went back to this link:

Happiness pill {aka wedding photos slideshow}

Enjoy (smile).

And on this day...

...I got a link. And in that link was something I cannot share. Not just yet. Well not with the masses. And it is killing me. So I shared it with anyone I knew for half a hot second.

Now I need to check all my bazzillion social networking sites and update them but my whole life was made sweeter for a lifetime in all of about 4 minutes this morning. wow.

So.

I need a new camera. I guess the one I bounced off of the garage floor day before my wedding is no longer acceptable. But I think it takes neat pictures now so of course I'll keep it.

I want to scrapbook again. So I have it in my grand master plan to get off of work at 5 pm (which means I'll leave there at 7), stop by wal mart for one more set of shelves (it is called repurposing honey--not hoarding) and get home just in time to see him get home. And maybe have a page done. But definitely have my hard drive dumped onto this backup drive so that we can get my laptop set back up and I can begin the fun prospect of digital scrapping again.

It is good to have goals right?

Reminds me, I need to email those other two couples about a dinner. This weekend or next. And we need to go to Purple cafe. And I need to go get a massage at Habitude. And I still have a boatload (literally) of stuff to return (I tend to overbuy just to make sure I have enough...I need to break that habit) and upon those returns I think I will barely (just barely) have enough to buy my Dyson Animal. Which I go back and forth on. I'm about 99% positive if I ever bought something for "home" that I didn't find at Marshalls, Ross, Big Lots or some similarly cheap but looks good enough today type store, it would be all out straight to the wall top line vacuum cleaner that I personally will use...maybe...once. I don't clean. That we've established. But after talking about monthly cash flows here and later, I think I'll make a strong case for having a happy housekeeper some day. And if you think I'm serious with that last line, I have a great candidate for...okay. I can't go there. Keep it professional.

Speaking of professional. I want her. Really REALLY bad. Problem is that statement could apply to oh...SEVEN of the candidates we are looking at right now. Of course I have my faves but that is what it is.

Social networking sites. I'm off.

She lives

Barely. So you know what that means...

102 feeds 700+ nibbles to read. I have a love/hate relationship with Bloglines right now.
Diamonds are a girls' best friend--be that in a wedding band or top tier status. Thanks ATL.
I hate flying. In airplanes. Through Philly.
It is indeed a Miracle. Or a Merikle (smile).
I don't like feeling stupid/incompetent/overwhelemd/like a quitter.
Facilitating big meetings and asking the right questions is my forte. Stop fighting it.
Phone interviews rock. Just not back to back to back to back to back to...
Weddings in dry cities are comical. Or profitable depending on how you look at it.
Where has all the customer service gone?
Jamaica. Oh Jamaica. Oh sweet sailing, snorkeling, being with him all the time Jamaica.
I hate conflict. Almost as much as I hate being manipulated.
I love seeing people in their element. Especially people I have responsibility for.
My new job rocks the salt. Challenges are good--especially when you're pushed to excel.
Excel, exodus? I need my Liisa fix.
Ms. Co Maid of Honor--your photos had me bawling!
Auntie girl, your videos are the shizz!
Cousin wed, I saw you videotaping on the downlow so when you going to share? My photos. uh.
Way to pull off the lustful reading Mr. M, screech into the parking lot 2 minutes before go.
I liked mine better too just for the record.
I paid really great photographers good money to do their magic of making ugly pretty. wow!
And I should get to work.

I do still like blogging. And scrapping. And reading. Ther eare only 24 hours in a day and when most of those days are spent stuck in a real life version of Tom Hank's airport movie (seriously, dude, I know every nook and cranny of all terminals of the Philly airport), then those 24 hours go by excruciatingly slow. With no internet access or scrap materials on hand. Sigh.

Love you all that showed up in person, via phone calls or via cards to the shin dig. Really great getting to see some others of ya'll tossing away all your money on the Boardwalk. Definitely praying for others of you--most for legit "it isn't fair" reasons, but some of ya'll I'm praying for your soul cause you know you ain't right.

Now that the blog silence has effectively scared off the stalkers, let's get back to being real.

Goodness gracious

So much happened. Got married, got traveled, got stuck, got photos courtesy of Rachel.

Laughed my but off, now going to sleep. After I down a whole pack of chiclets.

Night.

Relax mom...it is just embossing powder

Those are the not so random comments I anticipate being heard throughout my place when my mom gets here.  Which is in like t-minus 4 days (sunday, monday, tuesday, she's here barely on wednesday--with my cutie nephew and my lovely auntie).

I can't BELIEVE how much I got done on wedding stuff today.  I know where everyone is sitting, flowers are stressing me out, so not so much, spray paint high is in full effect and tomorrow is all about beautifying.  Uhg.  Straighten hair.  All day ordeal.  Now if only my friggin "foundation garments would get it straight already. 

Remember how the first dress that I wasn't even supposed to try on turned out to be THE DRESS?  Same thing happened today looking for the earrings.  Sigh.  And I thought I had found the bracelet but dear sweet Jesus and his papa were trying to tell me something real quick when I went to do online checkout.  I think the message was something like "are you out of your flippin' mind?!" because though I entered my credit card number and was twitchin' at the cost but justifying it by saying if it was not absolutely perfect, I would return it immediately, the next screen popped up to tell me I needed to call in to customer service to process my request.  Took too long so the last two in stock probably sold out before I hit them last few digits.  And I wasn't crying and a hot mess over it.  remarkably.

Favor boxes and programs.  Really not looking forward to either--especially the programs, but I just need to get it done already and stop procrastinating.  That and dig up my ipod for R.  Jazz selections on the mind.

Oh oh yeah!  Almost forgot.  When you get to my casa Ms. I know all your secrets, we can talk about said muffin pan.  You'll see it is perfectly intact.  And ALSO that I have brand new frying pans.  Which is perfect for the obligatory photo at my place.  You think I'm joking.

It was 91 here today with no air conditioning.  Over under on how long it will take me to pass out next Saturday?  Note to self, have chairs handy and lots of water.  Hot. mess.

Lastly.  In the switcharoo of emails and blogger not wanting to realize that yes, yes I have REALLY moved on, I didn't get like the bazillion comments that needed to be moderated in all of the last like 2 weeks I think.  I just thought no one was reading cause, well, I wasn't posting.  Never mind that I have years of stuff on here to tide any sane person over for a while of radio silence.  Anywho...(that is for you punk--if you already had a ticket out here, you best find some time to visit us when it starts raining again...I will be home this year). Admittedly not my top priority, but I'm working through the comments. Most of ya'll I know you so I'll just respond direct as usual, but for the FAQ type stuff, I'll tackle that here.  Here's the first round:

Nope.  Not at Seattle University anymore.  Love them to pieces.  Not so much the crazy travel.  Though do miss the frequent flier miles.

As ready as I think I will ever be (smile).

Nope, no CHA this summer (or last winter).  But hopefully, maybe this winter.  Just gotta see where we are in life at that point. Off the top of my head, probably not then either.

New hobby?  More like obsession and not at all new.  I started playing (Sim City) way back when it was just "simcity".  As in back when I was in grade school.  Spend way too much time crafting terrain rather than really playing.  But it makes for a great analogy when your finance geek fiance is trying to explain what in the heck craziness just happened this past Friday.

No.  I don't like Thin Mint blizzards and Thin Mints are usually really gross to me.  But the Ice Cream cake was actually yummy.  And no I didn't have any before the "extra 50 pounds appearance."  Uhg.  That was just gross.

I knew I would know them when I saw them.  It is more commitment issues than it is not knowing what the heck I'm looking for.  Case in point, the mall trip today.

Be back with photos to this post probably months from now when I've forgotten that I promised to come back.  Midnight.  hungry. sleepy time.

What...you want another engagement photo?

How about my fave one from the session?

Fave cause you can't really totally make me out (I like that.  Trust me.) and he's in the background doing his usual thing--looking on, with this look on his face like he is up to no good.  Which is appropriate cause the whole time he was gaming on being behind the camera instead of in front of it.  Right.

Photo by Gerald Pope Photography. Mix fun by your's truly in Picasa 2.

 

Off to traffic.  I mean work.

Lots to say, 3 minutes to say it

So I should do a list instead.  I know I know.

Was at work today.  And the commute is fun. Let. Me. Tell. You.  I might have to get road rage awareness classes.  or a bus pass.  And the links to all the Flex Cars on the East Side.

So at work, here's what I was loving today:

 

 

 

 

 

That and the fact that I found a memory card.  From the Tibet trip. With so many great photos on it, I can hardly stand myself. 

Three minutes are up.  Time for fish and chips and So you think you can dance.  I love Wednesdays.  Two more days until weekend fun in Ocean Shores!

Muffins or Photoshop

Now.

I can EITHER bake cornbread muffins OR reload all my actions and filters to Photoshop CS3 after finally getting my computer back.

Clearly, I can't multitask and do both. Not at the same time.

I was SO looking forward to cornbread muffins too.

Sigh.

At least it wasn't shrimp and grits. That would have ended up being another frying pan incident.

So close to the wedding. Probably not appropriate. But yeah, he should probably be very scared.

Twas my last day of domestic house playing freedom. Start work for reals and I'm super duper excited. Next month is going to go by so fast.

Strap in. Hold on tight.

Fave person. Fave site. Fave love

Love our photographers. Photo by Gerald Pope Photography.

I applied the Mix session courtesy of Picasa 2.

Poppies In the Park
Enjoy the weather! Happy Solstice!

For a political weekend...papaless and all

For such a political weekend, so VERY much has happened that I didn't even get to blog about. And my single mama, I called her today to say I love you and happy father's day (well, yesterday...on the way home from Spokane) and she put it all in perspective for me.

When you ask most folks what they think about Tim Russert's death, the answer is always an agreeable "I will so miss him and Election Night won't be the same without him."

Except for my mom. Not only did she bring it up to me first in conversation, but she said "It is so sad that he's going to miss election season this year." As in, it was sad for him to miss out on something he was so passionate about. It wasn't about what he did for her; it was about his passion and the timining of dreams lost. ESPECIALLY during this season she noted--for any political junkie and especially one like him, it IS sad that he won't get to be a part of that night in November.

I've never met a more selfless person than my mama. God I love her and everday I just wish that I could be 1/5th the woman she is. And since I can't see through the tears to type much more, I should go to bed (smile).

I'm an emotional wreck lol It was a draining weekend. Wanted something really REALLY bad and didn't get it. So that stung. Missing Robert more than I ever imagined possible. So can't sleep. Wish I could have my whole family under one roof. Wishing I could have gone to Irvine this past weekend (although that would have meant no Spokane, so just clone me so I could be two places at once). Really wish I could have had some scrap fun in TN this past weekend.

But above all else. Really wish I could hug my granny right now. And now I'm REALLY a hot mess so I'm going to go watch the ScalpMed infomercial. Those joints are educational! Act like you don't know.

Congrats to all the WA state Obama National Delegates! Special shout outs to Wyatt (you bring tears to my eyes with your PASSION!), Jay (I can't wait to work with you for years to come) and Robert (photographer extraordinaire) for representing the 11th in the finalist round! The delegates from WA all make my heart sing. And the folks who didn't even get to be delegates--wow. WOW. One of the other finalists said it best when she noted damn you all for making my ordinary and boring life absolutely unacceptable anymore. Damn you and thank you from the bottom of my heart!

And just FYI...ScalpMed has Miss Black Nevada testifying about her bald head and wigs. Can I get an amen?

Bring it Barack. Bring it. Responsible fathering (smile).

Goodness of Life

Last night, I acted a fool. So I had to apologize. But I got to meet some really cool people like Carolyn who reminds me of my aunt Terri, Rich who pulled some pretty funny wigged stunts in NJ with crab apples as a boy, and Devon (I'ma call you out Devon...cause that's how I roll) with the super fro and eyes that demand that you say "Yes, of course I'll work tirelessly to get Gregoire elected."

So. You know how farmers farming for ethanol is contributing to the food shortage across the globe? That's what I thought about when I thought about how fired up Obamaholics are contributing to the shortage of volunteers for the governor and senate races locally. I tell ya.

Today. Got to chat with Ms. Liisa which ALWAYS makes my heart sing. Got all ready for the trip to Spokane--with no laptop, doing it old school. Which is probably the best thing yet because that will force me out of my room and onto the floor to interact. And that's what this is about right?

I hold no illusions. I think I've done it, walked it, talked it and had a good time. At this point, it probably is more about connecting with people who will talk to me when they get back from Denver. And that's good to it too. But as I was being told by Ms. Jourdan of a certain someone's new gig--so much of life is talking the talk. Mean game. Which I have never been about. Always Ms. Worker Bee. But something about this process has really made it so very easy to do the thing.

So tonight I get to meet with a really great guy. And this is why I'm blogging (although now I remember a comment from last night too).

In the hubbub of elbow rubbing, I cornered a dude into eating. Yeah, you might not get to sleep much, but you gotta eat even in the midst of a campaign right? Right. So we're meeting up at 7ish for coffee. He gave me the two roads and a sortof attempted spelling of the name of the place. And his number. So I googled it. The crossroads and the words "Seattle, coffee". And I'll be darned if the 2nd entry to pop up didn't bring up the name of the place (spelled very wrong, but hey...I knew what you were getting at Majid *smile*).

So that's what on for tonight. While my better half is trying to be dark like me, I'll sip tea and chat and probably eat my whole box of fruit leather if I don't move on already.

So much for scrapping this weekend. One more week of freedom to get that done.

Oh yes...the other bloggable moment? Yesterday I finally got my mini pots painted and transfered the plants I'd been hording. Put them up on the sills in the kitchen. To which the other one asked "What's up with the weedpatch?"

That weedpatch is part of our centerpieces. Hush your mouth.

Ahhh...but it is going to Southern California

No.  I don't refer to my future husband as it.  Though he is also going to Southern California.  And Vegas.  But we don't talk about that.

I'm referring to that little gadget that this weekend, after driving about aimlessly on one-way streets of hellish downtown Seattle for 45 minutes looking for a place that really was right under my nose, I actually called it (well, the future husband and asked him to put IT on the phone) to find out where in the heck Yahoo Maps was trying to take me.

Now.  I've traveled this country over.  And over.  And over again.  Probably about times 3.  And each time I printed pages of maps from Yahoo maps on how to get there.  And they have NEVER let me down.  Not even that one time I took the wrong turn and ended up on the other end of the Peninsula driving to a retreat for EDAN (I could NOT for the life of me remember the name of that student group the other day when reading the Stranger...which also reminds me that I have not had Veggie Pho in...oh...a week now.  And. I. Am. Dying. SLOWLY.). I was saying.  Driving.  Yahoo maps.  EDAN--4 hour backtrack.  It was gorgeous once I got there.  Let me tell you.

All this to say that I plopped down in front of my computer that really isn't backed up with all the stuff I evidently could live with out after all to Google (and by "Google" I mean type in www.yahoo.com and go to yahoo maps) how in the heck I get to Best Buds in Madison Park.  Because yes, they may be my wedding flower savior. And I just want flowers anyhow and I saw some gorgeous hydrangeas in their photo in the paper and...I digress.

I sat down to Google/Yahoo it and low and behold, I remembered that I had Robert's car.  The one with the gadget in it.  That I called this weekend.  To tell me how in the heck I get from point a to point b.  So I'm going to go to Mike's and get the river rocks I originally wanted instead of the ugly mini seashells I settled for.  Then I'm going to Jo's to get the friggin' burlap or something already. Then I'm going to convince myself that yes, yet is is worth it to time it just right to head over to Madison Park on the way to picking up Robert who so graciously let me use his car after I dropped off my car at the body shop for work.  Yeah.  He does love me. But not enough to leave me the GPS when he goes to So. Cali. Because well, Spokane ain't big enough for me to get lost in.  10 minutes.  I'll take under on that one at that.  Watch me.

One Week down, two to go

Robert asked me what in the world I was going to do with myself with three weeks of freedom.  After Day 1, I was a bit worried.  I've managed to build a better to-do list in the meantime and so all is well in "Pretend Stay at Home Mommy to No kiddies World."  The biggest problem?  I don't like to clean.  So much for playing that one off.

In the meantime.

Tons of life going on.  Next month, I get married.  This month I've had the great fortune of meeting wonderful, regular people moving on to Denver for the National Convention (and yes, that would be the Democrat National Convention for those that had any doubts). This week did bring a lot of come to Jesus talks about finalizing the invite list for said event next month (and the budget, ahem). And I even had half a moment to scrap a bit.  And more to come.

So as time goes on, I've had the time to get caught up is the short of it all. And to re-evaluate what it is I love about life and could do without.  I love that nothing fell on the "do without" list.  Love. That. But also love feeling a lot more balanced. 

In my last job with the Law School, I loved that I had so many opportunities to do great things personally per the perks--I traveled a lot and could tack on campaigning asides for Obama and meet ups with scrap folks and it was just so darn fun!  It wasn't AS fun having to be apolitical though.  Sure.  There were lots of folks at the school who could proudly wear their affiliation where ever they went.  And trust me, anyone who knew anything about me knew who I was for and why they should be for him too (smile).  But I couldn't wear an Obama button while standing behind the table.  I couldn't email my extensive prospect e-lists and invite them to my events because I would come off as pushing the "ultra liberal/ultra-Seattle" image that we were not so much trying to get away from, but that we very much didn't try to promote 24/7.  I respected the need for that, but it was a an interesting balancing act that has been the biggest change I've noticed since joining the ranks of those without health insurance.  Albeit, by "choice". 

Choice being that since you can't start and stop Cobra at will, I can't sign up to pay for insurance for this month because then I would be double covered when I start the new job.  And Robert can't add me to his for a month because we don't have a qualifying event until next month.  At which point we get to decide all that married people stuff like how much life insurance to take out on each other.  Uh huh.

Not really too much information

So I saw a fun (long) post at Heather's blog and at the invite to copy and jump in, figured why the heck not.  In your entire life, have you ever...

gone on a blind date? Nope

skipped school? I slept until 2:11 pm one day in high school and freaked out that I had missed class.  In college, well, there was a lot of snow and sometimes, well, it was difficult to get motivated to go to a class that I was going to get an automatic A in for my awesomeness anyhow.  And then...I woke up.

watched someone die? Miss her everyday.

been to Canada? Eh? Many times.

been to Mexico? Technically...a time or two.  I like living in border states evidently.

been to Florida? Yes. Few times when I was on the board for The Box Project.  Really great organization.

been on a plane? For a living pretty much.  And no, I was never a pilot or a flight attendant.

been lost? Perpetually.

been on the opposite side of the country? Both horizontally and vertically and not just been there, but lived there too (born in TX, lived some in Michigan. Undergrad in NY, Grad school in WA).

gone to Washington, DC? Once.  Cannot WAIT to go back.

swam in the ocean? Just the Atlantic and the Pacific.  Not a big salty body of water fan.

had your booze taken away by the cops? What is booze?

lettered in a high school sport? I'm so great I lettered without even playing (lettered in Men's Basketball 4 years, Men's Track 1 year, as manager of the team). I did letter for 4 years in Marching Band (smile) and I lettered for 4 years each in Drill Team (as in Dance...I'm from TX people) and for 4 years in Dance itself.  Never had a letter jacket or got to wear that dreamy guy's jacket either.  Sigh.

cried yourself to sleep? Two times come vividly to mind.  Once when for the first time ever, my grandmother left home for a week to visit her daughter/my aunt in NY.  I couldn't believe she'd ever go anywhere without me.  Then, again, when I returned to NY that late November night in 1999 after being home in El Paso to say goodbye to her as she was moving on.  I remember being really stoic most of the time but then falling into bed, looking at the clock and just uncontrollably crying.  Come to find out, that was the moment recorded on her death certificate as her time of death.  Didn't cry myself to sleep the next day, but did cry all day that I couldn't be there holding her had in the exact moment that she really moved on.  Did a whole lot of crying at the end of 1999.

played cops and robbers? I can't remember the exact take, but there was this really neat version of cops and something or another (knowing the nerdy group I hung with, probably like cops and CSI agents) that we played growing up.  It was so friggin' FUN!

played dolls? I finally got a Barbie dream house when I was like 10.  I would hang out in the garage for hours decorating her house with all sorts of stuff I found around the house...like my mom's mini vases.  Shhhh...don't tell anyone.

recently colored with crayons? Nope.

sang Karaoke? I plead the fifth.

paid for a meal with coins only? God I miss Chicos tacos.

done something you told yourself you wouldn't? I'm online am I not?

cheated on an exam? Taken someone else's answers?  Please.  Do you know where I went to high school?  In college, one of my study partners cheated off of me.  I was smitten with the fact that anyone would even think I was smart enough to study with (it was a math class, I have SERIOUS math anxiety issues...and yes...yes I DID want to be a geneticist...what. of. it.), let alone copy off of.  Anyhow, got JA'd for that and cleared of all wrong doing.  The Princeton Mascot incident is an entirely different story. And not an exam.  So I'll plead the fifth there too.

made prank phone calls? Nope.  But did do the "you call him, no you call him, okay I'll call him, OH GOD HE ANSWERED HANG UP THE PHONE!!" bit.  Sorry Eddie and Jeremy (smile).  It was all Beverly's fault.

laughed until some kind of beverage came out of your nose? Nope.  Laughed till I about choked myself, but no liquid nostril fun.

caught a snowflake on your tongue? Yes.  And I know you snowbound folks think this is so not a big deal but honestly.  Honestly.  This is one of the most absolutely amazing firsts of my life.  Remember, I'm from the desert where we don't get snow.  Okay.  That and I've always been a late bloomer.  I know this.

danced in the rain? Yep--floods more like it.  Out on Atlas.  In El Paso.  It is a warm rain day here in Seattle and it reminds me of being home in El Paso.

written a letter to Santa Claus? Yes

been kissed under the mistletoe? Yes!

watched the sunrise with someone you care about? Yes.  Virtually at that (smile).  Was never a "stay on the phone all hours" type, but one night in high school I recall staying up all night on the phone with a certain "Chef" in Austin (who was in El Paso at the time) and having my mom be all "Are you serious?  You stayed up all night?  You're going to see him in like 3 minutes for band practice."  Tsk, tsk, tsk...like you get to talk at band practice.

been arrested? Not that I recall.  Which is kind of scary that I had to give half a thought to that. 

blown bubbles? Gum and soapy ones.

gone ice-skating. Almost.  But then pitched a fit or had to work or something and so missed out.  Can't believe I lived in NY for 5-6 years and never once made it to the rink.  Uhg.

been skinny dipping outdoors? No.

had a nickname? Yes. And to be quite frank, I can't recall how the hell Divine came about. Some not so flattering and downright derogatory, others just innocent and obvious.

been to Africa? Almost.  Times 2.  Before I die.  I promise.

eaten cookies for dinner? lol...I know a certain someone who has cupcakes for dinner.  me, I tend to either need something full out or nothing at all.

been on TV? Yep.  Local TV in high school for being one of those "good high school kids doing amazing things" (all because I was leaving town for college...okay okay...I was a nerd so I was like a National Coca-Cola Scholar--which actually got me on CNN as well...for my first time), in college, I hit CNN again for a pageant (I know I know...remember, I'm Texan).

stolen any traffic signs? Never.  Do you know how big those things are?

been in a car accident? A few.  I know.  But when we were really young, we had this red car (Vero remembers that one) and we were on our way home on a rainy day.  We spun out.  I freaked out.  No one was hurt. Once I was finally driving, I came around a corner in Ithaca one snowy night and spun out.  My bumper rested right up against the bumper of another car.  So lightly that it didn't even tap off the snow.  Which was a good thing because I did this right in front of a cop.  Then my ex backed his car out of the garage into my car and most recently, a Seattle Waste Management truck sideswiped me coming into my lane.  No weather on that last one.  Go figure.

What is your....

mother's name? Gerri (smile).

favorite drink? Water with lots of lemon.  Or if I'm in one of my infamous food cycles, Jones Creme Soda.

favorite alcohol? like rubbing?  I'm kidding.  I love great, thick, heady red wine.  Syrahs and Cab Sauvs mostly...just depends on the mood. 

birthplace? Texan

favorite vacation spot? Anywhere I've not been before that has something to take a picture of.

favorite salad dressing? Balsamic vinegar

favorite pie? Apple of course

favorite number? 3

favorite movie? This one is hard.  I LOVE movies.  Couldn't even begin to pick just one.  Off the top of my head, the first ones that come to mind: Shawshank Redemption, Babel, Kite Runner, Imitation of Life,  Schindler's List, Color Purple, Minority Report, Closer, Cast Away, I am Legend, Office Space, Fargo, A Perfect Murder, A Civil Action, Gone in 60 Seconds, Apollo 13

favorite holiday? Uhhhg...hate not getting to be with family so holidays are a chore now.  Trying to make everyone happy and pleasing no one in the process.  Can't wait to have kids and start another family unit and get to do all sorts of traditions and stuff.  At that point, I think Thanksgiving will be my fave holiday again.

favorite food? Chicos Tacos

favorite day of the week? Probably Wednesday...psychological halfway point.

favorite brand of body wash? Olay Body Creme Ribbons with Almond Oil.  Dear sweet Lord.

favorite toothpaste? Anything non-whitening.  Yeah...good luck on that in the toothpaste aisle.

favorite smell? Vanilla or rain in the desert.

Do you have any...tattoos? Nope

body piercings? Ears

Do you drive a 2-door or 4-door vehicle? 4 door. 

What do you do to relax? Read hang out watching trash tv with R.

How do you see yourself in 10 years? With babies, living in the burbs, active in my community, balanced, peaceful.

Happy 50th Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater!  These are the times I wish I lived in NYC.  As it is, I'll just have to crash on in to visit Rachel or something (smile).

And Freedom Came

Day 2...or almost Day 1.  All depends on how you look at it.

Lots of life going on around these parts lately.  Lots of photos, lots of life and nametags and roles and thoughts and links to think about and...just lots.

So some interactive lists are in order here:

Selectively Unemployed. 

I am BLESSED to be in a position to willingly be selectively unemployed.

Friday, May 30 was my last official day with Seattle University.  I will go back for a few follow up items, and I have some work at my new position to do this week. But I am so absolutely amazed how everything always works out.  Absolutely amazed.  So what will I do?

Well there are lots of tiny things like taking the time to slow down and document life.  All the tiny details like the Spring that may never come to SEA and JDRF's Beat the Bridge.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I will probably take a lot of time to work on all things political.  Those who know me know that I'm pretty passionate about politics.  Sure, by nature that means I support a particular candidate (smile), but beyond even that, I just LOVE getting people involved in the process again. Love that people have found their voices.

Speaking of Politics.

Yes. I am running for National Delegate for Obama.  You can read more about that and why at my Profile Blog. But beyond that, you know that I've been glued to CNN--yesterday the DNC Rules Committee met to figure out a compromise on Michigan.  Pretty much Florida is as it is.  Michigan well.  We just get to a point where I have my own struggles absolutely knowing, from a bigger picture stance, that it isn't always worth winning the battle at the expense of the war.  Those are my thoughts on that.

Reading

I love to read. The latest batch to arrive--something inspirational/how to.  Something step by step (wedding makeup and all).  And something thought provoking.  Which, of course, makes me now want more. Lots more. Great place to go for lots more?  Hamilton Books of course.  Why?  Because there are tons of bargain books on stuff you'd never think to buy.  I became hip to this discount offering in my last job (well, my last LAST job) when I was at SPSCC and had to be able to stock a whole Diversity Center on like $200 worth of funding.  Craziness.  I know.  But I did it. Through Hamilton of course.  And so now some of the other titles I think I might pick up this week from them?  Hmmm...

Cuttin' Up: Wit and Wisdom From Black Barber Shops by Craig Marberry Read more about this book...

Rising from the Rails: Pullman Porters and the Making of the Black Middle Class by Larry Tye Read more about this book...

Andrew Carnegie by David Nasaw Read more about this book...

Oskar Schindler: The Untold Account of His Life, Wartime Activites, and the True Story Behind the List by David Crowe Read more about this book...

When the Astors Owned New York: Blue Bloods and Grand Hotels in a Gilded Age by Justin Kaplan Read more about this book...

Good in a Room: How to Sell Yourself (and Your Ideas) and Win Over Any Audience by Stephanie Palmer Read more about this book...

 

And so you have it for now.  Have a friend coming over for a movie shortly.  Should probably order some groceries tonight for delivery tomorrow (LOVE that I'll be home to be able to pick a cheaper/free/bigger window of delivery time).  Play more with blog updates (I have a hundred and two of them so...)

Till next time.

It's official...

...I am that woman.

I was downstairs, humming Taps to myself partly out of respect that for some reason it is the first military tune that comes to mind (which is telling in and of itself) and I had just come in from listening to Webb talk about how politicized the military has become. And why I didn't realize this before, but hot damn if my stepfather was probably not a Republican. How I never really thought of that before (I mean, I DID grow up in Texas so it was kinda just a given) never crossed my mind. Love how NPR makes me think a lot more than say...Kube. Although, last night the Night Time Players (Mr. E in particular) had me thinking about "representing" and not blasting non-rap in the car. I digress.

Humming taps as I packaged up my deader than dead laptop. Yeah. Don't get me started. And yes, it is ironic that Mr. E was talking specifically about not banging Alanis, I read a blog from another brother today saying about the same and here I was thinking how friggin' ironic it was that my cake baker's laptop crashed (and she had just received it back) only to see. Mine was actually recalled for a service patch. One that conveniently all of a sudden renders your laptop useless. But not your harddrive. Which is yet another lesson in back up but it's not like I hear those lessons.

I just cry me a river and then Robert promises to get me a new computer (well, really, get HIM a new computer and I get his old one--I just play with photos and the internets, he's the one that's got all kinds of crazy going on and therefor needs the latest and greatest). Anyhow. Packed laptop up. check. Warmed up warmed over mac and cheese. Check. Went to go for hot sauce. Uhm.

Oh yeah. I have an extra bottle in the cupboard. Which is darn good because my other bottle is (wait for it)...













...uh yeah....













It is in my purse. And what?

Some fun stuff today:

Great catwalk at SisTv (be sure to check out Virginia Tillery's layout--she's my pic...love her)
Ani and Mario make an adorable robot groom and tiger print bride
My hair looks hot today

Some not so fun stuff today:

Work until 6:35. Deny appointments should NEVER last 1.5 hours
No him to come home to. See above. He's doing his civic duty
When visitors overstay their welcome. Guess we're on a roll here with this list.

Some "wow, this is my life stuff":

Not today, but hanging out with our absolutely amazing photographers Gerald and Arika. Ya'll blog readers chose so so SOOOOO very well on which photographer to go with. Love you all to pieces for that.

Saturday's Congressional Distict Caucus. I know people--relaly GREAT people going to Denver in August. I actually KNOW and get to talk to them and continue to know them. I didn't make it, but I know people who do. How absolutely amazing is that??

Things to just wonder:

Where are my books at.
Why I didn't just go finish my book off
Why I can't find something decent for my mother of the bride
Why it was so friggin' easy to find a little boys tux this time around
how it went from pure summer Sunday to "Feels like November" Tuesday. Loved it all though
where those RSVPs are from family folks who need to get it together already.

Oh to Love like this...

How to Wow: Proven Strategies for Presenting Your Ideas, Persuading Your Audience, and Perfecting Your Image by Frances Cole Jones Read more about this book...

The Beauty of Color: The Ultimate Beauty Guide for Skin of Color by Iman Read more about this book...

Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace . . . One School at a Time by Greg Mortenson, David Oliver Relin Read more about this book...

Because it is Friday and was gorgeous out earlier but is only getting cloudy because it is about time to get up and do something, I ordered the three books above.  Partly because I had Iman's book on my list for quite a while.  Partly because I read a great quick review of How to Wow on the Never Eat Alone Blog and partly because I needed a third book to get my free shipping at Amazon.com.  Never mind also the need to do everything in three's lately.  Or perfectly format blog posts.

So tomorrow are the Congressional District Caucuses.  Lots of AMAZING folks running.  So this will likely be the end of the road for me BUT I love how the Because | Democracy in Action project has taken off so I'll have a bit of time to work on that even more thoroughly as I gave notice at my position at Seattle University this past Thursday.  Such a pleasure working with those folks but on to a really exciting opportunity that I'll chat more about soon.  Just need to finalize a few things first.

Like how I love that I'm in love with a dude who is absolutely sure in what he wants.  Even when the emails get a bit rough (smile).  I've got some shopping to do tonight.  I was thinking for a while that I really like Marc Jacobs Daisy.  He's thinking more SJP Lovely.  So of course you know I know where to go to figure all that out.  Gotta make sure I'm smellin' the part of the sweet nice fiance right?  I thought you would agree with me there.

Wedding planning is coming along fantastically.  We did the best tasting ever at Kaspar's.  I can't even begin to tell you how amazingly delicious that food was.  Now I get to pick appetizers and contemplate if I really want to do a desert trio after all.  Gotta figure out what is included on that.  And then I gotta get to gettin' on finalizing guest lists and getting invites out.  I tell ya.

Engagement shoot this Sunday.  Totally, totally fun.  And then some!  Get to have fun in the park with Robert and neither of us will be behind the camera.  You'll get to see just how non-photogenic we really are (smile).  But because we have super photographers in Arika and Gerald, I've no doubt life will at least look perfect for generations to come. 

I need to go get some lunch and probably should try to stop by the bank(s) today and close out my individual account.  That whole joint life stuff is getting crazy.

Some things I'm loving lately:

* That little kid who went running full speed ahead to that big dog with the happy wagging tail

* "You know, they don't shed a lot but they do have drooling issues"

* Alki patrons who run full speed after you to return the wallet you dropped on the ground getting out the car

* Veggie pho (smile)

* Third Annual Statewide Diversity Conference

* 80 degrees in Seattle

* White shoes and white purses

* Because | Democracy in Action

* gmail

* Scrappy nights

* Baby pictures

* slow afternoons

Craziness subdued

I mean really. We have taken to talking about the hot mess that is essentially what we know to be our current existence. I'm not at all trying to knock anyone (ahem), but my word people. It is MAY. Some observations:

It is a tape measure and a private fitting room. Not that deep.
That housing crisis? Coming to Seattle.
Quantae says "sign me up". And he's an honor student so he knows what he's talking about.
What is UP with FTD Mother's Day flowers?
Is it football season yet?
Jamaica. During one of their busiest weekends of the year. Can't WAIT.
Because Democracy in Action. Crazy.
May 17th - sigh...fingers crossed, ear talked off.
If it ain't one stalker it is another. I must have that good stuff.
The other day, i heard a remix (can't remember which one) where old boy was talking about pipe. I almost had to pull over I was laughing so hard.

Saturday. We tasted the best food I've had in a good grip. Which isn't hard given my propensity to feed my man ground turkey sloppy joes and grilled cheese sandwiches with tomato soup (pass the Lousianna hot sauce and I'm happy). I need to get on better than that.

He's going to be ancient on Thursday. What's the perfect gift for the guy who is super picky, has it all, doesn't want anything and won't get up off it already? Clue. Me. In.

And we return

With more visual list happiness.  Gray day out, but I've gotta go and do the following before all hell freezes over:

Get to the post office

Find those envelopes

Did I mention I need to go to the post office?

Head out and REALLY find a dress

Maybe drive to Redmond.  Or is it really Bellevue?

Figure out this thing called life.

 

I had a horrible, HORRIBLE dream last night that it was like two weeks until the wedding and I still had like a mile long todo list.  And rather than just saying "You know, that's just not going to happen" I broke it down, figured out timing and committed to pulling allnighters for two weeks to get it all done.  I looked a hot mess on my wedding day because of it.  Uhg.

There's basketball on tonight?  I used to be such a proball freak.  Then they did my city wrong. Okay...it was before that.  Maybe then I got a life?  I don't know.  All I know is that there will be boys here watching basketball which means that I get to scrap on national scrapbooking day!  Maybe.

But I promised photos so photos it shall be.

I won't even tell that "he baked it" lie.  No.  I cannot cook.  Or bake either for that matter.  Unless of course I really set my mind to something.  So we made this "molten lava cake" about like a month ago.  I had to photograph it because cake don't NEVER last in this house.  Okay.  I had to photograph it because it was a hot mess.  Literally.  From no hand mixer (oh yeah, I need to put one of those on our registry) to impatience to me having a finger in the batter, this was just a given.  But never fear.  That boy was TASTY.  And a precursor of things to come for the wedding.  And yes.  Yes I do know that I have a wedding blog and that it would be perfectly appropriate for me to post all this junk there.  I'm consolidating life.  In that whole "move in" mode and all.  Life changes can be traumatic like that (smile).

And this would be why I'm not allowed to go price anything out at Costco.  I was supposed to be pricing tulips for the Staff Appreciation | Easter lunch.  Yes.  I work at a Catholic school so we get to have things like Easter lunches and Christmas parties at work.  And we don't call them Holiday parties and we don't send out Season's Greetings, we send out Christmas Cards.  Just so that you're sure you know what you are getting into when you hang with us I guess.  And yes...at Christmas, there are Christmas lights strung all over campus and it is the prettiest thing you've ever seen. 

I digress.  The yellow pad.  With like two lines of scibble?  Because I remember almost everything without writing it down so long as I repeat it like 3 times?  Anyhow...the Wedding Receptions magazine.  Totally didn't need it but it passed the "flip to three pages, do you see anything you like?" test (score--all three pages were hits so I HAD to buy it). You can barely see it, but there is a big Costco sized stack of handmade specialty papers there too.  I almost got a Cropadile too.  Hush it.  And the budding branches.  I love that Costco has garden bunches for like $9.  Which reminds me, I also want to go to the market today cause I saw some gorgeous GORGEOUS orange flowers at work today and I'm really hoping orange is in bloom now.  BUT...the Market is the last place I hardly never go because of parking.  I know.  Everytime guests come to town they're all "I'd shop here all the time for my fruits and veggies and flowers and fish" and I'm all yeah right.  Until you had to fend for parking instead of having me drive you around and drop you at the door.

They were so cute and pretty stacked all together.  The brown envelopes, the white and blue addresses, the cute little pink stamps.  Pink?  Yeah...I thought I had enough orange blooms to make it work.  Sue me.And yeah, I actually DID have to add an additional stamp to each of those envelopes so that was the drama of timing. Like I was going to let them stick an ugly forever bell stamp on it.

By now the world knows (well, most of the delegates in the state of Washington know) that I am running for national delegate.  It went from the district level caucuses where we were BEGGING people to please sign up as alternates just in case to the legislative district caucuses where there were a good crop of folks trying but not all that hard to the congressional district level where I have a close to non-existent chance. BUT.  In the process I have had the opportunity to meet some really amazing folks to profile for the Because | Democracy in Action essay and the photos are coming out really amazingly.  I'm finishing up the Tibet photo book here in a hot minute and getting that one entered and then I'll start compiling this one.  This one has really stretched me in that I'm generally (hard to believe, I know) a shy girl who is a bit timid to reach out and talk to someone for fear of rejection.  But when you believe in something so right and are passionate and talking to a friendly crowd, it makes it all the much easier to get up and say "hey, would you mind helping me out?"  You all rock!

Did I mention I was recently in the OC?  And what I love about the OC is that there really are oranges there?  And that oranges are my most favorite fruit in the world?  They are actually close to my number one food in the world if it were not for things like Louisiana Hot Sauce and chesse sandwiches.  Or green chicken enchiladas.  Or veggie pho (2 pcs of shrimp...pass on that next time)

Only in the OC do friggin' expensive BOP show up on every median and street corner.  I'm just saying.  You try to publicly plant them here in Burien and you'll see a lot of cut stems.  Which is odd because everytime we go to see tulips, R is adamant that open fields like that would never fly in Cali because folks would be taking a snip or two and making a living off of them.  See: oranges above.

Close to never.  Make that never.  That's how often I get this one to actually focus for a hot second so that I can take a picture.  And he's smiling and a willing participant at that!  Okay, really, I had to break out the huge lens and take this picture of him at the course from his sister's house and he was probably grinning about a great shot someone just took.  Or maybe he was thinking about the trip to the beach later that day.  Or about the doggie he might one day get if he acts right.  Not...I'm in the reflection.  Up close and personal.  Score!

I think you should know that Ricotta cheese is actually one of my most fave foods in the world.  That is what is in the bowl about to be tossed into some shells for stuffed pasta.  I want to go make some right now just thinking about it.  Yes.  Carbs at 9 am is probably the equivalent of drinking before noon in this house.  I can't help it.  The flowers...I want to say that was Safeway.  Bleh.  They look so pretty in mass but for the price, Costco all the way.  But the important image in this shot is the Zappos box.  Can you say wedding shoes?  Okay.  How about free shipping?

Honestly now. Yep.  That is my dress. Holy COW it is so friggin' amazingly GORGEOUS.  You don't even know.  You don't even know.  Heck.  I didn't even know!  I went with Liisa to get all up in her dress business and we pulled mine out the back to show her the color (hard to explain, but GORGEOUS--especially on me if I do say so myself which is okay because on Wed at work, someone came into my office and told me that my orange blouse looked great on me..."especially with my skin color".  I said please and thank you ma'am so I get one to throw out there like "the color of my dress looks damn good on me" it is only fair right?).  Anyhow, the tiny little thing with the cute earring and necklace set flipped it around so we could see the back and the train and I about fell out.  I was like "OH MY REALLY??!"  Course I was wearing the thing and they were piling on the veils trying to get me to buy $500 worth of tulle so I didn't get to see the detailing but oh my I'm about to cry thinking about it.  And I'm so not the girly, crybaby type.  Deep breath. Anyhow, had to order it because I'm a 7 foot amazon girl (6'2 in my heels...I'm marring a 6'6 guy and I'm 5"11 on a short day) and needed the 4 inches extra length and we're going to have to probably still rig something up with my shawl that won't be a shawl.  We got this.

I've already mentioned how I love costco flowers.  But really.  They have such gorgeous colors going on there that I never knew about in my quest for the lifetime supply (clearly, we're living longer than expected nowadays) of toilet paper and the case of artichoke dip that no self-respecting human being should ever be seen carrying out of that store.  I don't know why, but I just remembered that I saw my old landlord at Safeway the other day. He's a cool guy.  So is his wife.  A cool girl. Woman.  They just had a girl--about the same time as my boss actually. Lot of baby going around here lately.

If the sky here looked like this, I'd be out playing.  But since it does not, I'm still going to go out and play because well, it is Seattle and we'd all die in our cozy little homes moping about if we waited for good weather to go do anything.  Good on him--he's out doing another crazy long bike ride.  And me? Right.

 

Stay sane!  Get your RSVPs back.  And yes already.  Myregistry.com for the quirky stuff (you'll need to email us for the password because our address is all up on that joint) and Bed Bath and Beyond.  Thanks Anne and Miranda for the last.  Ya'll should get your referral bonuses soon right?

It was such a hit last time...

...and my life has become so all consuming with the photo taking lately (which, I LOVE by the by!) I figured that rather than getting on here and posting a pitiful list of things we all know good and well by now that I will NEVER in half of forever and then some come back to update...how about a visual list for my visual learning self.  Deal?  Deal.

In no particular order of course:

These are the times when I am so appreciative of the facts that:

1. I am about to marry an ex-wedding photographer.

2. I am half a minute handy on the whole post-processing bit.

See...this here photo...not all that great.  Not because of the photographer so much as the girl who bought her $7 dress thinking it would be perfectly cute for an engagement photo shoot.  The top is a bit, uhhmm, revealing and the rest of the dress leaves way too much to be desired. But I like the jewelry and get tons of compliments on the earrings you can't really make out.  Which is the point because I'm still not 100% convinced this won't be the get up.  As such, I played with the photo and I've decided I like the animated me a lot better than the photographed me.  I'm just saying is all.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

That there.  Those would be about 2/5ths of the preview of the wedding centerpieces.  The other three fifths is a surprise (smile).  Think OC light of my life and well, Seattle of course.  Ish.

That is called "The damndest thing happened on the way to see the man whose name I shall not speak.  I'm just saying.  He was funny.  The dent and the tale the person was telling who put it there was not. But I'm a sucker for old school brothers who remind me of my people's just trying to make it so I pretty much just sucked up the fact that I'll be paying like $50 a month more in insurance premiums but he'll get to keep his job for the city.  Yeah yeah...how nice of me.  Not so nice that I'm having second thoughts about that because, of course, now dude is being totally unresponsive.  Remember when I first started blogging and asked if I had a sticker on my forehead that said "I'm a sucker?"  Right.  It wasn't a sticker after all.

Is that not the absolute coolest thing you ain't never seen?  Aside from the fact that I've killed every gold and beta fish I have EVER owned (to the point that some have committed suicide by jumping out of their bowls to get away from me) I don't think I'll get a salt water or coral tank anytime soon since I can't afford to buy the stuff that goes into one let alone the person I'd need to hire to actually take care of it.  But I tell ya.  The highlight of any trip to the OC is going to his sister's house and checking out her gigantor tank.  I could jump right in and get lost up in it.  And you think I joke.  I mean.  It really isn't THAT big, but I do find myself just sitting there for a good hour watching the one clown fish go all crazy on anyone that tries to come up near his corner of the tank.  And just watching all the puffy, stringy, floaty things.  I mean I'm a sister who doesn't do the ocean thing cause things would touch me.  But I was watching survivor and they were swimmin' with the jellyfish and even I had to admit that that was the coolest thing I'd ever seen.

Until later.  The future husband to be rings.  Congrats T on your engagement!  Brit it is SO great to "find ya" via your reconnect from T's blog.  And trash the dress...T...you know my heart on that one.  Totally!

More later today  Happy National Scrapbook Day!