Feeling a bit scroogy

Wow, it seems like forever since I have been here- I had planned to do an entry yesterday but well, things got away from me as they often do.

So let's start with well - you missed the decorating of our sparkly tree...

The kids are apparently over it.  Ruby didn't come out of her room - and Henry sat and watched TV while I decorated it.  Sigh.  It was kinda nice to just get it done I guess.  That was the weekend before last.  We got lights up on the house, too.  Since then the elves have been busy - the VHM has been in the basement sawing and mitering and sanding a storm, he comes to bed after I do smelling of sawdust but this creating makes him so much happier (which makes me happier).

Dad Update: So this part I can see is going to be harder. I did speak to Dad almost every day - and certainly tried to reach him every day.  He's having some difficultly in either not hearing the phone or not understanding what he's hearing is the phone - all I know is that he's been there but hasn't answered a few times.  He reports that a staff person has drawn his attention to the fact that the phone was ringing.   He's also said a few things which have me a bit concerned - watchful anyway - referring to "the house his wife owns across the street" and when I said something like "well, I don't think it's across the street" His reply was "well, here in the immediate neighborhood."  He's remarked a number of times of not having been upstairs at the Ferndale house, or never having been places (which up until now were clear in his head).   He seems to be rather taken in with the Christmas planning, overly concerned about snow "getting in the way of your Christmas plans" etc.   At one point he said "well, I am not sure how the holiday will effect the phone company" which was totally out of context.  I do know that he got out with the gang from St. Mary's to see Christmas lights, and that he's gone regularly to his exercise class; and a couple of walks a week.   Both my little brother and sister stopped by and visited.   I hope he gets good holiday time at home - and oh, he's been approved to go to the gym and work with weights/bicycle with immediate supervision.  So that's awesome.

The week has been a blur of construction on the bathroom (now on week 3) and christmas planning and prep.  On Tuesday we went to boy-o's concert - he's come a long way on the violin and while we all were a bit "ho-hum" about the other part of the concert - at one point a sixth grader who is visually impaired (and a tiny little boy) - played the piano - brilliantly.  The kind of playing which made a bunch of us burst into tears.  That kind of playing.  The audience was stunned into silence; and erupted with applause.  A nice christmas present indeed.

Thursday was PHO night.  My first attempt.  Not so great I am afraid. It was pretty though.
















At some point, I snapped this picture while out shopping:

You can see Z's cards at the top of the rack!

Friday night the girl and her guy hung out with us oldie moldies - her guy played his guitar while we lounged about for a few hours and then we went to a very late movie (which of course I slept through at the beginning).  Kinda sucks being me sometimes.

This weekend more shopping and cleaning - we had the painter in all weekend working on the bathroom (I swear these guys all work at a snail's pace). 

This is actually an older photo - pre wall install. 

On Sat I shopped - and you know it's worrisome if there's only four carts left.  Sunday I ran some errands and then made cookies, made caramels, made roasted mushrooms and then more cookies. 

The caramel, while delicious, never set.  It's in the freezer right now in a last ditch attempt to salvage it.

Random Photo of the Week:

Girl.

The VHM says that I am shiny this time of year.  I don't feel shiny right now.  Time for some Bailey's me thinks...

Change is good!

Ok so this blog will continue but it's moving toward a weekly post rather than a daily post - it will be more interesting (hopefully) for readers and more easy for me to manage/find interesting things to talk about.  As I move into winter I will have less time (my wednesday's off stop in January) so it's a good thing.

The bonus is that not only will this blog become way more interesting... but I have started a new one, specifically for more structured creative writing (an oxymoron so early in the day!) -- the link is in the sidebar of this blog...

Or for today - you can find it more easily here: http://beginningofaflame.blogspot.com/

I don't think (but I may change my mind) that there will be much commentary at the beginning of a flame; probably just entries of writing.  I do hope to get a post up each day - but that's subject to creative inspiration and my ability to push myself.   The nice thing is that I can post from my phone if its just text -- and that serves to make it more likely to happen even on the busiest days.

Please know that I appreciate anyone viewing and hope that all find something to brighten their day or make them think or clap with glee over me.

Anticipation

I'm building it! Right? Hopefully I have not lost my few faithful readers...

I swear it's just that when you have kids and holidays --well you have shopping, decorating, card printing, craft projects, concerts, etc. and they all take priority over writing, and blogging.

I also AM revamping the focus/format of this blog--so consider this a transition period - a palate cleanser; or perhaps an amuse-bouche.

My pickled beets came out! And this makes me happy!

Yay me!

I really am coming back...

It's just been a tough few days; and things should be a bit calmer tomorrow. Then I should be able to unveil the changes! I'm excited to see how I do--

Full belly and a little sugar

Makes for a sleepy me. After a late night slog through the Xmas crowds downtown, I met up for a late night dinner at our new Mexican restaurant. Note the capitalization, not a New Mexican restaurant, but a new Mexican one. [The VHM seems to get overly excited when I use this phrase- thus the need for clarity].

After all that, I had a shot's worth of baileys which knocked me out like a sledge hammer in the hands of the first terminator.

So, 2 hours later I'm posting this from da bed. More tomorrow if I'm inspired...

Flat Egg; I am like you.

I don't know about you but I am getting bored with this... this relating of my daily life.  It's not what this was supposed to be -- though really it wasn't supposed to be any particular thing.

Maybe by Monday I will have a new slant to this blog. Or perhaps I will start another -- thing.

Plumbers.  9am (actually a bit earlier as they could start outside with the removal of more siding). I headed off to work... leaving the girl stuck on plumber watch.  We refer to them as plumbers though the VHM reminds us often that these guys are not the plumbers but others.

the day skipped by ok. Though I can't say that I was enthusiastic about things in general -- I was informed midday that there was significant water damage in the wall of the bathroom that they feel came from the window. 

So now there's a hole in our house [there was, now they have put wall back].

I was also informed that I would be needed to be at the house tomorrow...

Dad Report: Dad and I had a short conversation - there was a disconnect at the middle of the call; a fairly long time before he hung the phone back up; and then his aide was there to take him for a walk. 

Random Photo of the Day:

I kinda liked my hair then...















I made a good dinner - steak, mashed potatos, and salad.

Then I made http://www.canyoustayfordinner.com/2010/11/09/cranberry-corn-muffiins-with-sweet-milk-drizzle/   But I panned them instead of making muffins.  It was ok.  I like the taste of cornbread but not the texture.  Too -- gritty.

As I went to make it - I noticed one of the eggs was odd...

Noticeably flat this egg was...

I've been avoiding the work I need to do about the house and the work I need to do next for bizbaz.

I note that both Pic*Mic Designs and Zachary C. Love's cards have been picked up as favorites on Etsy; and another one of my sister's cards was put into a treasury.  We are getting a lot of views - just not a lot of sales.  Might have to look at the pricing again...

Bathroom Schmathroom

oh goodie another day of de-struction/con-struction.  Old guys (not bad guys really) showing up first thing in the morning, my favorite.

My hair was looking snazzy, I know that much.


But I had places to be and people to see - so I was off and running.

A massage. mmmmm.  I was late.  But none the less it was lovely.  Went off to work for a bit.  Managed to make enough mistakes I had to print a letter like 7 times over.  See that's what happens when I work on my day off.

Dad Report:  Talked to Dad, he says the first time he didn't hear the phone and isn't sure why; he said someone called it to his attention.  We talked construction for awhile.  He told me about how Cayla had taken him out to some performance last night.  He didn't recall this until I asked about Cayla, but then it came back to him.  He had a hard time finding the right words to describe things but he's pretty resourceful in finding other words to convey what he's trying to -- but you need to all him time to do so.  He said it was nice to get out for something other than eye appts. and tooth fillings.

I have a kitchen to clean so this post will be short.  I had absolutely no luck in the writing area today.  I tried. But inspiration was not there.  Shoulda forced it.


Random Photo of the Day:

Kicking it with some righteous people in Vegas at APP 2009.  That's me looking completely out of it, and my imaginary best friend, Corey (right) and Cyrus (left).  Check out Corey's business at:  http://www.mayaorganicjewelry.com/

There are some pretty earrings for both "standard" and stretched ears.


Tomorrow I think I will tackle a new recipe - some weird corn, cranberry muffins. We'll see.

The old guys pulled a good piece of siding off the house.  Bathroom schmathroom, why demo just the bathroom when the whole house is available? Apparently the leak is in the window. So apparently we will gain a fan but lose a window. Suck. 

Cough, Cough

so dusty.

nothing like a little demolition to make you have a headache, eye strain, nausea, and did I mention a whopper of a headache?

Our bathroom better wipe our a** for us by the time this is over.

The bathroom renovation did as most renovation do...it crept slowly but surely out of the confines of the bathroom and suddenly was in the basement, and up the outside wall to the 2nd story.  Wha? Huh?

What I learned today: Sawzalls are LOUD and make your butt vibrate (and not in a good way) if you sit on a chair which is on a floor which is attached to a wall on which a sawzall is being used.

I stayed home to watch over the "plumbers" which it turns out aren't plumbers but are other people "in charge."   I actually did get a fair amount of work done -- though not as much as I would have typically due to the aforementioned overwhelmingness of the work being done.

Random Photo of the Day: (I am on my fourth "random" photo selection... yes I cheat)

Well, see this makes up for missing it the other day...heck let's go to the parade for a minute (2007)

Dad Report:  I wasn't able to get a hold of my Dad until late - he was off on a walk.  We had a rather circular discussion about the plumbing situation here.  This was made even more difficult as Dad was having trouble with the phone again today.  He says the pad on the phone makes it more obvious but less obvious on where to put his ear.  He didn't get why that statement was confusing to me.  When I asked Dad about walking with the walker, he informed me that he used it when he was with the aide but not when he was alone.  I told him that seemed backward though I was sure I knew why he was doing it that way (as they won't let him walk around with out it, i expect).   He let me know that he didn't use it when he walked about "the building."   I wasn't aware he was venturing out on his own but he said yes, occasionally he will walk about just to pass the time.  We had a talk about escape routes and whatnot.  He says he's not interested in escaping when its this cold out and I guess that's a good thing.   He seemed WAY more oriented to the building, letting me know that he goes down to the first floor for his class on Mon and Thurs; that the elevator goes to 5 floors, he lives on the fourth.

Tomorrow is one of my final Wednes off.  I am hoping to do some writing and reading. I also need to finish up my letter to out of state retailers and get that going.    We'll see if my plans, pan out. 

Maybe I will do a little Christmas shopping. 

Why are plumbers so damn messy?

our morning was started with hurried showers and a flurry of moving stuff "out of the way" for the plumbers.  Let me remind you - we are having our bathroom redone (via the landlords) - they are tearing out the tiles which were falling for the umpteenth time off the wall - and repairing other leaks - leaving the cast iron tub (so cold this time of year!) they are replacing the old tile with stone.  We are getting a ventilation fan (yay!) and a new floor and sink.  Sooooo much demolition must be done.  I understand this.  More on this later...

I went to work early (gasp) just to remove myself from the muttering. There's a lot to do right now and I am tempering my desire to get things done - with the need and necessary task of training my clerk so that when I am much much busier she is up to speed and can help with the work.

Dad Report: Dad seemed down today though he reported his typical "I'm good." We both I think had a bit of the Monday blahs...both lamenting that we didn't have a lot to talk about.... his aide came to get him for exercise class - I need to call a bit early on mondays to keep this from happening. 

So my office had a visit from the plumbers as well.  They covered nothing -- well ok, they put a piece of cardboard over part of my printer.  And then they proceeded to drop black dust and ceiling tile crap all over my desk and our materials.  NOT what I wanted to see first thing this morning.  I had an unhappy face on this morning. 

I did run over to Raven  - Heidi had found the cards I had left for her over a month ago (Zach's) -- she lamented that she was tardy about reviewing them and that Hobbs got first dibs.

I am trying the Etsy "ads" again.  Last time they drove a lot of activity to the site - but didn't generate any sales - I am hoping maybe the 2nd time around will be different.

I struggled with the APP schedule - it's like a giant complicated puzzle where the shapes keep changing.  Made my head hurt but I almost have it I hope.

The VHM and the girl were off to Florence and the Machine at the Midland in KC (the VHM actually bowed out allowing the girl to take her main man -- which made the girl smile real big).

The Midland Theater is a beautiful, now renovated historical theater that the VHM was the electrical contractor on... so its a part of us in a special way.





Random Photo of the Day:

 Espresso - iphone and garage door openers.  A summer day...











Boy-o and I were left to fend for ourselves - I decided to make him a steak! I was too slow in getting a picture:

My dinner.  Followed by a Dessert of a Quesadilla. Lol.

Then I decided to make some pickled beets:

Now I have to be good and wait to eat them.

I did all this cooking while tromping around on flattened cardboard boxes put down by the plumbers to "protect the floor" --- and the pieces of drywall and other "wall stuff" and the plant life drug in on boots and what not.  Messy. Messy. 

it's time..

Time Time Ticking....in my head

so after a rather active dream night *glares at the VHM* I awoke to someone talking about water in eyelashes and things needing to be turned on or off.

I made a huge diner like breakfast - - complete with things cooked in bacon grease and the poor attitude.  But man, that coffee was HOT.  We launched into our day, both with lists of things to do -- yet confident all would be accomplished by day's end.

Dad Report: Poppa was grooving right along.  We had a short talk about his hearing aids - he informed me that he didn't really care what people said, he found they did not work with the phone.  When I mentioned we had all been asked by the audiologist to remind him to leave them in, he said "well, you've reminded me..."  And we left it at that.  We talked a bit about the habits of squirrels, until he tired of the subject.  Moved on to habits of his Dad -- related to shopping.  Talked about Salt Spring Island and his Dad and Mom's home there, which he now believes he has never been too.  We talked about my trips out to Salt Spring and how Dad was there with me on some of them - but he has no memory of that.  It was a good conversation.

I tackled the grocery shopping and the VHM tackled a major reorganization of the upstairs, basement, and green room -- because we can never just deal with one room at a time.   I joined him after I returned, and then fixed some food.  Back to work for a bit - and then we ventured out to do our annual trip to shop for stocking stuffers -- he was terribly preoccupied (the weight of being a man with much to do and not enough time to do it all in).  Somewhere along the ride tonight-- I became sad.  I am quite sure it has more to do with hormonal ups and down than anything else -- but I am also sure it's a bit due to the season and a bit due to the fact that I too never feel like there's enough time. 

Since I didn't get to Etsy during the day - I worked on it tonight.  Now it's almost 11pm which is just ridiculous and I feel like I never got any leisure time today.  BLEH.

These pictures kinda suck - the cards are way prettier!  To the right of this blog is a link to the Etsy site...

Random Photo of the Day:

J.M.M.P.

This is the boy-o's and girl's little brother - he's a pip; and perhaps one of my favorite little kids ever.  I think this is when he was 2? He's six now.

Yah.  I am done. 

Rainy Day People

last night, well -- I was just all snuggled in and completely out (asleep) most of the night, and it wasn't until my head hit my pillow hours later that I thought: blog?  And then listened to rain...rain...rain...

We made it out of the house, in the pouring rain, just in time to miss the Christmas Parade. *shrugs*  It was too bad but not awful.


Dad Report: I can't say that I am a big fan of the process of the hearing aids on the phone.  There's something about them that makes my Dad lose the excitement in his voice when he answers -- it's really not important but it certainly is different. Today it was clear when he answered he had already taken them out -- and even though I talked to him about it, rather than agreeing this time, he made it clear that he didn't think it was necessary to put them in.  We had a nice conversation about growth spurts in boys and power tools. 














The VHM and I had a nice breakfast out, went to the Lawrence Art Guild's Holiday Art Fair and I spent most of my time at http://ruralpearl.com/  admiring her amazing work.

We ran off to Sears (still in the rain) and did some price shopping of early Santa presents for the VHM.  I am on a mission to feed his creative juices and get him designing and creating, as we have been unable to provide him the space to do his first (?) love -- an investment in his happiness and mental well being, which translates to more peace and overall satisfaction in work, love and life.

After some price comparison - Santa came through...

We are both excited by the possibilities of what this means...















Monday the plumbers come. boo. and Yay at the same time - I am ready for us to have our bathroom back in its entirety but the transition is bound to be annoying.

Random Photo of the Day:


I think today is my brother's birthday.  We fail as a family in this regard.  Happy birthday!










Tomorrow after an early trip to the grocery store, I'll be working on Etsy hopefully for a better portion of the day.  This will also give the VHM time for man-cave action.  mmmmmm.

Ut oh.

I'm in bed and realize I have failed to post today. I fell asleep early snuggled up with the VHM. I plead exhaustion. And a general disinterest in doing "work." I will speak more of things tomorrow.

Pumpkin Bread comfort

I am in need of a snuggle-nap-layabout in a bad bad way.

I sure it has something to do with the impending holidays, a bit of a work crunch coming soon, a little hormonal wave, and a bit of a post-bizbaz slump.  <<<how long can I blame this for all things?

And its colder. 

Dad Report: Today he had forgotten all the new information about his hearing aids so we went through that again.  I told him about our intent to go to the Festival of Trees, he relayed a story about how he used to go and cut a tree with his Dad when he was small but then as soon as he got big enough to wield the axe, his Dad made him go get it on his own.   We talked a bit how you can't just go cut a tree like you used to - and the change in weather patterns - he was amazed we got snow being so far south  (first saying "in Ohio"); his geography seems to be leaving him.  Holes are appearing in his knowledge base which is sad, not just his personal memories.






It was a long work day - the tasks I was doing were tedious and took much longer than I had hoped.  I was tired and it was cold in my office.  I did get the very cool tshirt from Precision Body Arts which is owned by a friend of mine. I would show you a picture but it's a little racy. hahahahaha.

So we did go to the Festival of Trees.  Nothing like enjoying the spirit of christmas and giving while listening to two teenagers whine and look at their cells phones the whole time.  sigh.  After viewing exactly 1/2 of the room they all (including the VHM) said - "we're done" and left me to wander by myself.  It didn't really bother me as much as I am making it sound - as they do this every year.  The family has low crowd tolerance.

Chicken Soup with Rice by Maurice Sendak Tree

Hard to tell but this one has paint brushes!

The Hoopers got in on the action

Little African woven bowls

Bird houses and treats for birds

Corn Husk Dolls

Hula Hoop

Arctic Fun

It looked like a Dr. Suess tree to me

He's looking at a sign, not at change on the floor

The Police did this one - note: siren on the top

Fun at the Pond (mirrors used as pond water)

Money DOES grow on trees

So people/companies/groups decorate the trees and then they auction them off to raise money for The Shelter here in Lawrence.  I think the VHM is going to do one next year.  That would be so cool.

Then we were off to Henry's (a local coffee shop) - where Ruby has ANOTHER show!  See her work here: http://www.rubyloveartist.com/


She really is an amazing young woman. 

Random Photo of the Day:  I miss these times...

I made Mac n Cheese (box) but added Asparagus, and leftover Salmon.  It was delicious.  And then I made Pumpkin Bread with Chocolate Chips and another one with Butterscotch Chips.  Less chips, and put them on top.  Healthier but still tasty.

Spoke with my sister - it was good.  I miss her and HB.  Sounds like they may finally venture out this way. Hard to believe that Big H hasn't met the kids yet.  I mean its been 7 years.  Keerist.