Visiting Glenwood

This weekend I went up to Glenwood with my parents to visit my Aunt Sandy. Missy got to come along; Rufus had to stay home. Missy loves it up here, there is so much space to run and so many interesting smells to check out. My Mom and I visited two scrapbook stores in Alexandria, they were both nice little shops.

Watching

This summer I was given a box of my grandparent's photographs to sort and organize. Some of them were very old pictures, and most of them were ones I had never seen before. As I sorted, I found my school pictures-- kindergarden, first, second; up to fifth grade, the year that they died. I was struck with an incredible sadness that they didn't get to see me grow up.
When I was almost near the end of the project, I found this picture. There they are, watching. And I felt comforted. If they don't know who I have become, then someday they will when we meet again.

An Idea

I'm planning to go to CHA Winter, a big scrapbook convention, in Anaheim, in January. I've got a flight voucher that I need to use. So I started thinking about staying for longer than the convention, to have a little more time to relax and enjoy the change from Minnesota winter. But it always came back to wanting somebody to share it with me. So I'm going to see if Chie can take time from work and come to California. It's an idea, anyway.

A quiet moment, and then

I thought I'd take a quiet moment to catch up on some emails and blogs.
But somebody's obnoxious dogs are outside, barking their fool heads off.

Oh, they're mine.

Gotta go.

I couldn't agree more

Check out The Patriette's blog for today (Oct 20). I've never had anyone say anything purposely hurtful about the deployment, but some comments hurt nonetheless.

State General's Coin

From Dave:
That is the TAG, The Adjutant General, the Highest ranking General in Minnesota, Reports to the Gov of Minn.He awarded me a state generals coin for good work, somebody some where recommended me...

Much Love

Dogs are NOT like children, but they need love and attention. They notice when their routine is disrupted. If I'm home, they lay around and sleep in the evening, or play if they feel like it; and if I'm at work, they do pretty much the same thing. But Missy and Rufus made it clear that they've missed me this week. Missy went for positive attention, Rufus went for negative attention. Funny little personalities. When I got home last night, Karlene had left a note that Rufus had been sick, and had been put in the bathroom for the evening. I discovered that Rufus had eaten a tube of chicken-flavored doggie toothpaste. And yes, he ate the TUBE. He gets creative when he feels neglected!

Missy, my sweet girl, I will explain, sleeps next to me. When I can't sleep I will reach out and curl my fingers into her fur. She has gotten used to it, but she likes her space when she's sleeping. But last night, she layed down in the crook of my arm with her head on my chest. And she moved several times in the night, but always stayed snuggled up to me. She has done this before when she has been "out of sorts". It's very sweet.

My husband is also very sweet. He sends me flowers just because he misses me. I'm very loved. (Even by Rufus, the little brat.)

On your marks

This week is going to feel like running a marathon (speaking figuratively, of course! I do not ever plan on having a reference to what a marathon feels like).
But for now, I am waiting again. Today I'm waiting for a report so I can get started on a project for one job. I'm waiting for a phone call so I can finish a project for the other job. I'm waiting for a phone call from Dave, and I'm waiting to get over the headache that's been dogging me the last three days. I'm trying to prepare for the marathon training I have this week, and trying to prepare for working each evening. Ready, set....

This was the project I did for the October scrap club challenge. The challenge I chose was to make an album that fit into another gift item. I made a mini-book for my niece that fit into a little lipgloss purse set.

Night Off

I have decided to give myself the night off. I was planning to go to a friend's housewarming party, and I'm sorry to miss it, but I need a night at home to relax. Starting tomorrow I will work seven days in a row at Too, and starting Tuesday morning I will be in a 4-day training that will either tax my brain (hopefully) or my patience (hopefully not).

Maybe I will work on finishing up the journaling in my Michigan and Japan books. But then again maybe I wont. :)

The Scrap Club

Last night was the first meeting of the scrapbook club. We have not come across a name that is catchy or poignant enough for us yet, so we are so far nameless. The three other ladies who were there last night were so inspiring and I really enjoyed their company. (I'm chuckling as I say this - I know at least one of them reads my blog... but I would have nothing but praise for the group anyway!) I'm very excited about this group. There is so much positive energy and creativity, I imagine as we sit and share that above our heads in a big thought balloon there are words and swirls and doodles and Nancy's fabulous flowers being created.

Another busy weekend, another busy week

This past weekend, I dog-sat Karlene's parents dog, Howie. He is half Basset, half spaniel. He was very sweet. I also worked Friday night, Saturday and Sunday at Too.

One of my most frustrating (and dumbest) challenges is going to the bank to deposit checks. I don't like my closest bank and I procrastinate going there. I don't like going there at night, and I don't make it a priority during the day. So I keep the checks longer than I should.

In Case you Wondered....

Good Food, Good Friends

Tonight I went out to dinner with three former co-workers to Maggiano's Little Italy.
So much food... all fabulous. I have leftover fettucini alfredo to last me for two days. Working at home, I miss the in-office interaction. At home, interacting takes a lot more effort and is more intrusive. I do have people in the New Albany office that I do keep a more personal relationship with, ever since I had a chance to meet them face to face. I guess I never really thought about my long-distance relationships much; Dave in Iraq, Chie & Keitaro in Japan, my co-workers in Ohio. I can't give them a smile in passing or a pat on the back. It's so easy to fall into thinking that there isn't anything important enough to talk about, and not maintain that contact. But I think about them all and I wish they could be not so far away.

Getting ready for the Drywall company

Tomorrow the drywall company comes to fix the bad patch in the living room ceiling. I'm starting to feel like the cure's worse than the disease. To fix it, they have to scrape all of the texture off and then respray. That means that all of the pictures have to come off the walls in the living room and dining room. All of the furniture will have to be moved too. What a pain. I can't reach two of the pictures, because I borrowed the ladder I used to hang them. I'm going to see tomorrow if I can talk the drywall people into helping me take them down and put them back up. (They're about 10 feet up)

I don't know what changed from last June when Keyland and the drywall company were such jerks. I didn't hear anything or say anything for months, but suddenly they called and wanted to fix the ceiling. And they were pleasant! Who knows.

October!

It's October already... Can winter be far behind?

Friday night my dinner plans were cancelled, so I had a nice night at home, relaxing. Karlene had a cold so she stayed home too, so I made stew in the crock pot. Yum. Fall comfort food. After dinner, I organized my scrapbook stuff, a badly needed project, and watched an old movie.

Saturday, I worked at Too from 9:30 am - 9:30 pm. Lest you think Sue is some kind of ogre, I chose to stay that long, and it was very fun.

Sunday after church I cleaned the kitchen and Dave's parents stopped by for a while. Karlene & I took the dogs for a walk to enjoy the beautiful weather (85 on October 1) and then I went to Too for a store meeting and dinner.

The only unfortunate thing was I kept missing Dave when he would instant messenger me.