Congratulations to the newly married His/Her Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge; Earl and Countess of Strathearn and Baron and Baroness Carrickfergus! (Imagine having a grandmother who can bestow not one....not two...but THREE titles upon you on your wedding day). And, he's still a prince to boot!!
Kate and William, you lit up the screen and gave the world a fairytale....and I think this one is built to last. You are both suited to each other and so obviously caring towards each other....what a joy to watch. The wedding was so incredibly beautiful.....the dress was stunningly gorgeous and so elegant. Pure Kate!
I'm celebrating by going back to bed for a few hours....2AMish was very early - but worth it!! Thanks to J. who sort of nudged me to get up....I considered sleeping a bit longer and it's a good thing I didn't 'cuz things were in full swing and moved pretty quickly....I would have hated to miss the 'live' broadcast.
It's a Royal Wedding day -
Friday, April 29, 2011
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Royal
I am so happy that our Spring Break is coinciding with the royal wedding - I will be up and watching the entire event...albeit alone. No one else in the house even remotely interested in watching with me...even with promises of freshly baked scones and good English breakfast tea. Oh well. Their loss. I watched William's mother marry his father oh those many years ago and I will do the same for him. And count my blessings - from a three room flea-bag 'apartment' (my first after moving out of my brother's house) to where I am today is quite a gift, really. I'll greet the sunrise in my lovely home and watch our garden wake up.....can't wait! I am so excited - it's stupid, I know....but I've always loved 'the royals' and this is a big occasion. I'm also confident this marriage will fair better than his parents. I hope....
I've been off a bit this week - wedging in some meetings as needed - but mostly off. Working outside a lot and feeling the satisfaction of the backyard looking a little bit more 'well-tended'. Now on to the front. Have promised myself I will be out their daily from now on - sometimes for an hour at a time. Or just minutes. But little by little is a good way to proceed in most things and it's true for gardening.
I have some posts in draft stage - and lost one of them entirely through an odd 'touch' of my laptop palm pad.....and sadly, the minute I hit that button, Blogger did an 'auto-save' - so I totally lost it....it was a hard post to write and now it's even harder to recreate it....so that will take some time....
Baby shower this weekend for Bug....have enjoyed shopping for her little blessing....
J. is also off a few days this week and we are heading out to buy a new office chair for me. The one I'm using is making me very sore and uncomfortable and while I don't want to spend the money for a new one, we must.
Boys are sleeping. It's only 10:30 and that's still 'early' for them -
Praying for those in the south - tornadoes must be terrifying.....I can only imagine.
I've been off a bit this week - wedging in some meetings as needed - but mostly off. Working outside a lot and feeling the satisfaction of the backyard looking a little bit more 'well-tended'. Now on to the front. Have promised myself I will be out their daily from now on - sometimes for an hour at a time. Or just minutes. But little by little is a good way to proceed in most things and it's true for gardening.
I have some posts in draft stage - and lost one of them entirely through an odd 'touch' of my laptop palm pad.....and sadly, the minute I hit that button, Blogger did an 'auto-save' - so I totally lost it....it was a hard post to write and now it's even harder to recreate it....so that will take some time....
Baby shower this weekend for Bug....have enjoyed shopping for her little blessing....
J. is also off a few days this week and we are heading out to buy a new office chair for me. The one I'm using is making me very sore and uncomfortable and while I don't want to spend the money for a new one, we must.
Boys are sleeping. It's only 10:30 and that's still 'early' for them -
Praying for those in the south - tornadoes must be terrifying.....I can only imagine.
Sunday, April 17, 2011
H. and A.
Here is a picture of the prom couple - J. laughed because the 'City Hall' is labeled behind them and you might think 'just married'. Thankfully, no...he's got a long time before he adds a 'wife' to his list of challenges. He's a handsome, sweet, kind-hearted young man and we love him to bits. And that's always true - even when he's making is Mom a wee bit nuts - 
Congratulations, H. - your Senior year is almost over and now, the real challenges begin....it's called life. And it's going to be better than you ever imagined -
Congratulations, H. - your Senior year is almost over and now, the real challenges begin....it's called life. And it's going to be better than you ever imagined -
Saturday, April 16, 2011
Uncle Sam
Busy, productive day here.....including a nap! That's productive, right?
J. and I drove to Walnut Creek this morning to return the non-working food processor to Crate and Barrel. They were very nice about the return - no hassle. We went to The Container Store also and got a couple things - I'm reorganizing under all the bathroom sinks so storage bins, etc. are helping with that project. Also got a small box for H. to put all of his ear gauges in - they are currently stored in a long row on the bathroom sink. He's not wearing them anymore - letting the holes heal up. I just don't want the gauges sitting out forever. We had a nice lunch at Fresh Choice and then drove home. I napped a couple hours. It was a nice nap - and I haven't had one in a long time so I was due. I actually fell asleep while I was watching TV for a bit - just like I did last night....tired.
It's prom night for H. tonight so he got all dressed up in his black tux with a red vest and red tie. Red Converse sneakers (brand new) completed the outfit. He looked great! J. went and took a bunch of pictures at the City Hall fountains where all the kids gathered.
It sounds like they're having fun though their bus' sound system isn't working - so instead of driving down to Capitola for a night at the beach, they are at Pier 39 in San Francisco. They are waiting for a new bus but it sounds like Capitola is out of the picture....San Fran is a lot of fun and I'm sure they're having a blast. He's going to keep in touch throughout the night via texts - the after party and then spending the night at a friends house. He'll sleep all day tomorrow, most likely.
I've spent the afternoon (post-nap) and evening finalizing our taxes. Just finished submitting the e-file of ours - will e-file B.'s tomorrow. Now just have to get the money into the checking account to cover the payments which will be charged to our account on Monday. It was a very bad year tax wise - but I keep reminding myself we're so blessed to have the money to make the gigantically huge amount (three times what we paid last year). Next year will be better....
We also wedged in a little work outside - planted some spinach seeds and a bunch of flower seeds in the flower beds - just to see what will happen. J. did a lot of weeding - still much to do but things are shaping up out there. The pots are full of really pretty flowers - J. planted my Alden Lane Nursery purchases last week while I was in Anaheim. It's looking bright and cheery out there!
J. is playing music at church tomorrow. I'm planning to hang around at home waiting for H. to call to be picked up. I'll wedge in a little work stuff to be more prepared for the week ahead. It was a really hard week this week and I am hoping if I take a couple of hours to re-group tomorrow, it will help improve next week to a level that won't result either tyranny or mutiny - by me. I can always hope....
J. and I drove to Walnut Creek this morning to return the non-working food processor to Crate and Barrel. They were very nice about the return - no hassle. We went to The Container Store also and got a couple things - I'm reorganizing under all the bathroom sinks so storage bins, etc. are helping with that project. Also got a small box for H. to put all of his ear gauges in - they are currently stored in a long row on the bathroom sink. He's not wearing them anymore - letting the holes heal up. I just don't want the gauges sitting out forever. We had a nice lunch at Fresh Choice and then drove home. I napped a couple hours. It was a nice nap - and I haven't had one in a long time so I was due. I actually fell asleep while I was watching TV for a bit - just like I did last night....tired.
It's prom night for H. tonight so he got all dressed up in his black tux with a red vest and red tie. Red Converse sneakers (brand new) completed the outfit. He looked great! J. went and took a bunch of pictures at the City Hall fountains where all the kids gathered.
It sounds like they're having fun though their bus' sound system isn't working - so instead of driving down to Capitola for a night at the beach, they are at Pier 39 in San Francisco. They are waiting for a new bus but it sounds like Capitola is out of the picture....San Fran is a lot of fun and I'm sure they're having a blast. He's going to keep in touch throughout the night via texts - the after party and then spending the night at a friends house. He'll sleep all day tomorrow, most likely.
I've spent the afternoon (post-nap) and evening finalizing our taxes. Just finished submitting the e-file of ours - will e-file B.'s tomorrow. Now just have to get the money into the checking account to cover the payments which will be charged to our account on Monday. It was a very bad year tax wise - but I keep reminding myself we're so blessed to have the money to make the gigantically huge amount (three times what we paid last year). Next year will be better....
We also wedged in a little work outside - planted some spinach seeds and a bunch of flower seeds in the flower beds - just to see what will happen. J. did a lot of weeding - still much to do but things are shaping up out there. The pots are full of really pretty flowers - J. planted my Alden Lane Nursery purchases last week while I was in Anaheim. It's looking bright and cheery out there!
J. is playing music at church tomorrow. I'm planning to hang around at home waiting for H. to call to be picked up. I'll wedge in a little work stuff to be more prepared for the week ahead. It was a really hard week this week and I am hoping if I take a couple of hours to re-group tomorrow, it will help improve next week to a level that won't result either tyranny or mutiny - by me. I can always hope....
Friday, April 15, 2011
All My Children
Stunned at the news that ABC is cancelling not only One Life to Live (which in my opinion has been past it's prime a decade and a half, at least) but All My Children! Say it isn't so! Granted, I used to watch daily (taped it in my 20's but of course gave up watching it daily (or often at all) when I had kids).....if I'm home for some reason and happen to think about it around noon, I'll turn it on. I will miss it....and might start taping it again to see the 'wrap up' and 'reunion' episodes that will undoubtedly commence.
It's a fitting title for today's post - because all MY children are making me crazy. Bat shit bonkers, I think.....so preoccupied with stuff happening around them and their lives that I'm fragmented and forgetful - not a good combination...
I've felt off-kilter all week - and my boss let me know that it's normal, since I was out of the office all last week. It takes time to get 'caught up' and back in the groove...he's been very understanding this week of my scatter-brained self....
But it worries me. The things I'm forgetting are things I shouldn't. How do you know if you're just over-tired; or over-whelmed; or over-whatever....vs. getting old....vs. early onset Alzheimer's? 'Cuz I'm really worried that 'holy crap - what in the hell is wrong with me'....
It's Friday and it's early...and I'm 'retiring' to bed soon. I will sleep until I can't sleep anymore....and hopefully, I'll be back to my normal self after a couple nights of decent sleep.
As for the kids? Well - they're still here. Still being 'boys'/'men'. Still exhaustingly trying my patience.
It's so bad that J. sent me flowers. God bless J. He tries so hard to help with everything....and when he realized that I'm officially at my wits end with 'all of the people I live with', he did the only thing he could think of: he sent flowers. They are beautiful. I am still a cranky bitch - but he tried.
It's a beautiful sunny weekend from the looks of things - so here's hoping I snap out of my funk....
It's a fitting title for today's post - because all MY children are making me crazy. Bat shit bonkers, I think.....so preoccupied with stuff happening around them and their lives that I'm fragmented and forgetful - not a good combination...
I've felt off-kilter all week - and my boss let me know that it's normal, since I was out of the office all last week. It takes time to get 'caught up' and back in the groove...he's been very understanding this week of my scatter-brained self....
But it worries me. The things I'm forgetting are things I shouldn't. How do you know if you're just over-tired; or over-whelmed; or over-whatever....vs. getting old....vs. early onset Alzheimer's? 'Cuz I'm really worried that 'holy crap - what in the hell is wrong with me'....
It's Friday and it's early...and I'm 'retiring' to bed soon. I will sleep until I can't sleep anymore....and hopefully, I'll be back to my normal self after a couple nights of decent sleep.
As for the kids? Well - they're still here. Still being 'boys'/'men'. Still exhaustingly trying my patience.
It's so bad that J. sent me flowers. God bless J. He tries so hard to help with everything....and when he realized that I'm officially at my wits end with 'all of the people I live with', he did the only thing he could think of: he sent flowers. They are beautiful. I am still a cranky bitch - but he tried.
It's a beautiful sunny weekend from the looks of things - so here's hoping I snap out of my funk....
Monday, April 11, 2011
New Things Happening All the Time
I've been to Disneyland dozens of times in my wonderful life - from my first memory of riding in a car and seeing 'it' and being shocked that it was just 'on the street' amid other businesses, etc. to this last trip...and what amazes me the most about this trip is all the 'new' things I've discovered. J. is going to be so excited (probably not, but he'll pretend he is) when I tell him that there are a lot of things we can do in retirement that Disney Resorts can be a big part of.
I bought the 'Hidden Mickey' book this trip and the next time I'm here, I plan to create a 'scavenger hunt' list of Hidden Mickey's to find. There was a Mouse Adventure event this weekend also - a website www.mouseplanet.com - hosts these events at all the Disneyland resorts throughout the year. This weekend was the semi-annual event at Disneyland and yesterday, the park was crawling with 'Mouse Adventure' lanyards. The teams of people work on completing various 'hunts' and quizzes. They can have team shirts and carry clipboards. They gather and whisper a lot. Competition is fierce! And there is a point system to see who 'wins' and an awards banquet at the end of the event. It looked like a ton of fun and I think we might form a 'team' someday and participate.
I had lunch at the Carnation Cafe and it was a pin trading event. I've known about those - but wow, I had no idea how extreme some of the collectors are. These people had bags and bags and BAGS full of pins. And 'back stock' kept in plastic bags. It was pretty incredible. I didn't bring my pin collection (which I've always considered pretty 'big' until this weekend) so I didn't have anything to trade - and since I don't buy more than one of any pin, I wouldn't want to part with any of mine to trade anyway. I don't want to give them up - but in retirement, who knows? Maybe I'll be one of the ladies dressed head to toe in Disney gear, sitting at a table wheeling and dealing from my pin collection. Could happen. Might be fun!
My suitcases are packed and ready. I'm killing time in the hotel while (hopefully) the morning rush hour traffic tapers off a bit. No point in sitting in a car waiting to move. Will get me home later but that's OK. I'll get there when I get there.
It's been a wonderful trip and I've really enjoyed it. Back to the 'grind' tomorrow....
Happy Birthday to my sister who hits the big SIX-ZERO today! She is the definition of '60 is the new 40' - she's like an energizer bunny! Love you! Hope you have a wonderful day!!
I bought the 'Hidden Mickey' book this trip and the next time I'm here, I plan to create a 'scavenger hunt' list of Hidden Mickey's to find. There was a Mouse Adventure event this weekend also - a website www.mouseplanet.com - hosts these events at all the Disneyland resorts throughout the year. This weekend was the semi-annual event at Disneyland and yesterday, the park was crawling with 'Mouse Adventure' lanyards. The teams of people work on completing various 'hunts' and quizzes. They can have team shirts and carry clipboards. They gather and whisper a lot. Competition is fierce! And there is a point system to see who 'wins' and an awards banquet at the end of the event. It looked like a ton of fun and I think we might form a 'team' someday and participate.
I had lunch at the Carnation Cafe and it was a pin trading event. I've known about those - but wow, I had no idea how extreme some of the collectors are. These people had bags and bags and BAGS full of pins. And 'back stock' kept in plastic bags. It was pretty incredible. I didn't bring my pin collection (which I've always considered pretty 'big' until this weekend) so I didn't have anything to trade - and since I don't buy more than one of any pin, I wouldn't want to part with any of mine to trade anyway. I don't want to give them up - but in retirement, who knows? Maybe I'll be one of the ladies dressed head to toe in Disney gear, sitting at a table wheeling and dealing from my pin collection. Could happen. Might be fun!
My suitcases are packed and ready. I'm killing time in the hotel while (hopefully) the morning rush hour traffic tapers off a bit. No point in sitting in a car waiting to move. Will get me home later but that's OK. I'll get there when I get there.
It's been a wonderful trip and I've really enjoyed it. Back to the 'grind' tomorrow....
Happy Birthday to my sister who hits the big SIX-ZERO today! She is the definition of '60 is the new 40' - she's like an energizer bunny! Love you! Hope you have a wonderful day!!
Saturday, April 09, 2011
As Directed
A big part of this conference has been the 'doom and gloom' surrounding the state of our State. Suffice it to say that I emailed my boss a couple times yesterday and included words like 'morose' and 'depressing'. He wrote back and said 'you need to stimulate the economy next door'. I follow his directives to the letter.
I spent a nice evening in Downtown Disney - first ate a delicious dinner at the Storyteller Cafe at the Grand Californian. Yummy and the first 'nice' sit-down dinner I've had since I got here. Turkey legs are great - but it was nice to sit and be waited on. People watch. Then off to shop - did my 'big shop' at the World of Disney, utilizing the generous discount coupon I got for buying my tickets online. It was a fun time - browsing, selecting gifts for two family members who have birthdays in a week (or less).
I love how grown people walk around in Tinkerbell jackets and various Disney attire and it's perfectly fine here. I love how little girls and boys walk around as princesses or pirates - loving the attention their 'birthday party' attire is getting them. I love how you know they are never going to forget 'the time I got to be Ariel or [insert princess name here] for a day'. Love, love, love that magic that is what Disneyland is all about.
I am on a break before our lunch session. By 3PM today, I will be officially 'done' with work and on 'my' time. I had toyed with the idea of just driving home tomorrow - the hotel tomorrow night is on us and it would save money for me to just go home. I talked to J. about it - and thankfully, he encouraged me to stay. Truthfully, I am exhausted down to my bones. I have walked A LOT this week - and learned a lot. My brain is tired. My body is tired. So a day of sleeping in and doing what I feel like doing would be a nice break before the long drive home on Monday. So I'm staying. I plan to hit the jazz cafe in Downtown Disney in the morning for beignets and coffee and then off to the parks. Moving at my own pace but enjoying my 'last day'.
It's been an amazing conference and now that I've attended (I've been a CBO for close to five years and this is the first time I've attended this conference), I will be back annually. It is a great set of workshops with current, relative topics - and I've learned so, so much the past four days. It's been great - and I can't wait to go back and share what I've learned. We've got so many things happening at our district - and I went to a lot of workshops that will help get us ready for what is coming our way.
Off to lunch. Then one more workshop on energy management. Then changing into jeans and walking shoes and heading to the parks again.....turkey leg? Perhaps.
I spent a nice evening in Downtown Disney - first ate a delicious dinner at the Storyteller Cafe at the Grand Californian. Yummy and the first 'nice' sit-down dinner I've had since I got here. Turkey legs are great - but it was nice to sit and be waited on. People watch. Then off to shop - did my 'big shop' at the World of Disney, utilizing the generous discount coupon I got for buying my tickets online. It was a fun time - browsing, selecting gifts for two family members who have birthdays in a week (or less).
I love how grown people walk around in Tinkerbell jackets and various Disney attire and it's perfectly fine here. I love how little girls and boys walk around as princesses or pirates - loving the attention their 'birthday party' attire is getting them. I love how you know they are never going to forget 'the time I got to be Ariel or [insert princess name here] for a day'. Love, love, love that magic that is what Disneyland is all about.
I am on a break before our lunch session. By 3PM today, I will be officially 'done' with work and on 'my' time. I had toyed with the idea of just driving home tomorrow - the hotel tomorrow night is on us and it would save money for me to just go home. I talked to J. about it - and thankfully, he encouraged me to stay. Truthfully, I am exhausted down to my bones. I have walked A LOT this week - and learned a lot. My brain is tired. My body is tired. So a day of sleeping in and doing what I feel like doing would be a nice break before the long drive home on Monday. So I'm staying. I plan to hit the jazz cafe in Downtown Disney in the morning for beignets and coffee and then off to the parks. Moving at my own pace but enjoying my 'last day'.
It's been an amazing conference and now that I've attended (I've been a CBO for close to five years and this is the first time I've attended this conference), I will be back annually. It is a great set of workshops with current, relative topics - and I've learned so, so much the past four days. It's been great - and I can't wait to go back and share what I've learned. We've got so many things happening at our district - and I went to a lot of workshops that will help get us ready for what is coming our way.
Off to lunch. Then one more workshop on energy management. Then changing into jeans and walking shoes and heading to the parks again.....turkey leg? Perhaps.
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Our cleaning lady D. is here today - she wears earbuds and chats on the phone while she works. She is the third cleaning 'person(s)...
