Jesse in the Midwest

November: Giving Thanks # 3

2011-11-05T15:34:00.003-04:00

playing hooky from work

November: Giving Thanks # 2

2011-11-04T14:00:00.004-04:00

One of those rare mornings with no tears or meltdowns, and just plain old silliness before heading down to music class.

November: Giving Thanks

2011-11-03T14:59:00.002-04:00

Capturing Our Blessings: Week Two

2010-11-08T20:15:00.003-05:00

10:10:10- Camping

2010-10-10T20:07:00.006-04:00

Bryan, Olive and I loaded up the car and drove about 5 hours east to meet our good friends Jeff and Cicie, who drove 5 hours west from Washington D.C. We had decided to go modified camping all together and meet in the exact middle, which turned out to be BarkCamp State Park in Ohio. So much fun to eat bad food, roast marshmallows, and the unintended bonus of timing our trip with the beautiful Autumn leaves! A great weekend catching up with friends - now we're back, unpacked with a lot of clean laundry to be folded before climbing into bed tonight.

Clean sheets and clean laundry

pretty autumn colors

Sunshine at the park

Jeff and Bryan tend the fire

Cicie, me and Olive

Cicie and Olive meet!

Cold nose on a morning walk

Morning light

Bunk beds were hilarious until Jeff fell off the top one at 3 in the morning

Early morning walk with Olive, so we didn't wake up the other sleepers..

Fine Family Fall Feast

2010-10-04T09:20:00.002-04:00

Occasion: First weekend of crisp, sweater weather, first fire of the season, and the annual pre-winter garage clean out.

Attended: bryan, olive, jesse, milo, delilah and fargus

On the menu: orange roast chicken, potatoes, stuffing, green beans, crusty bread, apple cider, and wine.

Afternoon Naps

2010-10-01T23:30:00.006-04:00

I love it when Olive falls asleep - not for the obvious reason of getting a little down time from her, but because it's so funny that she's going 100%, and then bam - she's down for the count. Sometimes I can get lucky and I can tell when she's about ready to fall asleep, but usually it takes me completely by surprise - she also isn't picky about where she sleeps either, which is pretty funny.

Heading into our first weekend of October and really looking forward to it - LOTS of fun things to do, but have to make sure to carve out some time to do nothing.

Walking with Olive

2010-09-27T14:41:00.004-04:00

This morning we went for a walk around the neighborhood - we were both happy to put long sleeve shirts on for the outing (finally!) Olive added some tights and a hat to her ensemble, and we were off. It's fun to see the neighborhood at a different time than I'm used to seeing it (commuting to and from work) -a whole new set of habits and people out and about. We're going further now that the weather is cooperating - I'm keeping my Seattle-spirit alive by going outside and walking to destinations.. I'm also keeping myself in walking shape, so when the day comes to go back to the puget sound, I'll be in coffee-shop walking distance shape! (kristen!)

Olive is 5 months today! Honestly, in some ways it's gone fast, and in other ways, very slowly.. all in all though, I think she's a pretty cool little girl, and we think we'll keep her ;)

Practicing

2010-09-09T18:14:00.003-04:00

Olive fell asleep at the dinner table the other night, with Delilah right underneath her. Delilah hasn't been able to get anything good off of her tray yet, but she knows the day is coming when being underneath Olive will benefit her greatly, and I imagine she's just practicing and biding her time...

Foodie

2010-09-09T18:07:00.002-04:00

We got the okay at our 4 month doctor appointment to start Olive on baby food and rice cereal, with the goal of it just being fun and experimental. Let the games begin! - we bought her a high chair, put on her seahawks bib, and dug in. It was pretty funny - she mainly plays with it, rolling it around in her mouth and letting it fall out. I get such a kick out of it - a very entertaining way to eat :)

Thursday

2010-09-09T18:00:00.002-04:00

Funny Faces

2010-09-09T17:42:00.002-04:00

Not meaning to abandon the blog - trying to find the time to write more meaningful things than status updates of daily chores. Enjoying taking pictures of our baby girl, staying in touch with friends, reading books, getting ready for football, keeping doors and windows open - these are the things that are keeping my days full.

Poem

2010-08-17T18:49:00.002-04:00

Found today on the interwebs and too lovely not to share:

I need a word

a brand new word

nobody ever heard

I need a word

that can express

You are the dearest

on the earth

{by Monique and Hans Hagen}

That's sweet - makes the run of the mill days a little less so :)

Tuesday

2010-08-17T18:25:00.003-04:00

baby photo shoot

Story Time

Morgan and Yew

Olive's view from her perch on the floor

Goofy girl making unintentionally funny faces

Knitting project almost done - Beautiful new fall hat!

Our day was slow.. nothing eventful happened, it was mostly quiet around here - slow-paced late summer day i guess. Oh! i almost forgot - i made reservations for Bryan and I at the Searose - a tiny B & B in Oceanside, Oregon where we stayed during our honeymoon. We'll be staying there in December for two nights while Grandma and Grandpa Fine babysit - I am really, really really looking forward to this. it won't be an exaggeration that i'll be counting down to December 21st starting today! Life will speed up shortly - later this week I'll start watching the little girl across the street every afternoon until her parents get home, and my two Art Appreciation classes will be starting, so I'll get to slowly test my feet at being a stay-at-home mom who works from home as well. I'm sure it will be great - I feel lucky that i get to do this, though I'm sure I'll be a lot more on task grading papers than I have in the past! In the meantime, fall can't come fast enough, and winter too!

What is everyone else up to this Tuesday afternoon?

Bry and Olive 1980 and 2010

2010-08-16T14:30:00.002-04:00

like father, like daughter...

2010-08-11T17:37:00.005-04:00

Here's Olive enjoying her bath last night with her dad and doggies. We're unpacked and unloaded, and are back into our routine, just in time for things to change again! I've really been enjoying these days with her: staying inside and playing on our bed, running errands together, hearing her tiny voice babble away at the ceiling fan - i feel like i could listen to her forever.

More and more I feel like I'm getting a better hang of all of this - again, i don't want to jinx myself, or seem too self confident (i'm anything but!), but I'm no longer terrified of night time, or feel quite so "in the trenches" to borrow a very apt phrase from a friend. it IS interesting to learn how to do things with a baby, and Im sure it will only get more so as she grows into toddler-hood and older, but for now we take it day by day and it works for us. I've got no problem being a lazy bones sometimes, and feel blessed that i get the luxury of being at home with her and not having too fixed of a schedule to maintain.

Speaking of staying home, I've decided to try an experiment my friend did awhile ago, where she went an entire year without buying any clothes or extraneous items for herself. i think it was a challenge not just out of respect for her family's' budget, but also to simplify and try not to add a bunch of "stuff" that she didn't need. I'm inspired by her, and am making this my goal as well - September 2010 - September 2011 I'll be making due with the wealth of clothes and things that I have already. I'm looking forward to this - I think it will help make me more aware of what I have, what I use, and how I can make do with less! My one caveat will be supplies like fabric or yarn for sewing/knitting projects, but my promise to myself is to finish them, or die trying...

Visiting Washington and Oregon was so nice - seeing family, passing babies back and forth, smelling smelling smelling the northwest, and loving cold ocean breezes. I can't think of a better way to spend July. I'm tempted to say that it will have to become a tradition, if we can manage it :) Hanging out with Toledo family and my "cousins-in law" for a week every year is something i could get used to! Won't it be fun to watch our daughters grow up and have summer adventures together?!

Settling Back In

2010-08-09T11:15:00.003-04:00

Back from a long and wonderful trip to the West Coast - got to visit wonderful family and kindred spirits in both Oregon and Washington. At the moment, I'm finishing getting unpacked, catching up on emails and getting used to the heat again after being in cool for a while. So glad and thankful that I got a chance to see everyone and hold babies, and walk Greenlake multiple times.

Sewing, Round 78647836423876423

2010-07-13T08:26:00.002-04:00

I am a would-be sewer, knitter, crocheter. i have HUGE eyes when it comes to projects and little ability to follow through. I would love to be able to sew my own clothes, make homemade christmas presents that dont look like a 4 year old made them (nothing against 4 year olds who DO make xmas presents, just not as cute when a 30 year old does it), and generally be more crafty and talented than I am. I have a sewing machine that i'm a little scared of, and I'm always starting something new and fantastic and abandoning it as soon as i get confused, stumped, discouraged, or make mistakes.

Enter my post baby self - clothes don't quite fit as they used to. Old jeans are unforgivably tight and im so tired of wearing maternity jeans when I'm no longer expecting. Add to this our new budget, which has one less income, so spending lots of money on non-necessities seems silly. I've decided to try and make myself some bellbottoms out of old cords and jeans from thrift stores. I think hippy clothes are the most flattering on me these days, and i've always loved an excuse to wear bell bottoms :) So, I've ripped out the seams successfully and today I'll be attempting to sew in a fabric panel. Can't wait to see how it goes!

Catching Up

2010-07-12T17:43:00.003-04:00

(Olive enjoying the outdoors at the Art Museum)

Where has the time gone? And I missed 10 on 10 - drat! June was a busy month - full of a month long visit from my mother to help with Miss Olive (something I don't think i could have done without!), and lots of baby related fun. Olive continues to grow - past 10 pounds at her 2 month checkup and going strong. I have to say - I'm elated that we've passed the waking up every 2 hours mark, though I mentally cross my fingers every time i say we've "passed" something.

Tonight is so far, so good: planning a short run with Bry, O, and Delilah, then dinner (chicken and cous cous with salsa!), then movie night. Runs are still very hard - my goal is to run for 30 mins straight by the first week of August, so I can be on track for my "novice to mini marathon" training I'm starting for a run in october. We'll see - right now that goal, and my little goal of 30 mins, seem around a corner that i can't see.... but progress works like that i guess..

I've also started putting things together and making lists for my first plane trip with O this Friday - I'm nervous, though I know moms with multiple kids do this all the time. I'm sure it will be great - I like being a little team with my girl, doing things for the first time together that seem scary - grocery shopping, walking, running, all those tasks you take for granted until you have a little one that comes along with you.. and it will be even better when we have Bryan to fly with us home - the three of us is the best :)

Ten on Ten: June (or I have a new baby edition)

2010-06-10T18:43:00.005-04:00

Olive, enjoying some down time while getting changed

all the equipment in our front hall way

grapefruits

Bryan, planning out his bike ride for the evening..

another fascinating meeting with her giraffes

wide awake on mama's bed

laundry in various states

Milo and Delilah, biding their time until their walk

Naptime with Grandma

Breakfast with Grandma, and trying to smile!

I promise that next months will be more interesting than just shots of various baby poses around my house :) @ the moment, that seems to be the most frequent occurrences!

In Our Room...

2010-06-10T04:57:00.004-04:00

Bought at Trader Joe's this past week, an indulgence in honor of a friends anniversary, but also because they were so pretty I couldn't resist. Indiana's state flower is the peony, and for about 3 weeks every year, you see them blooming EVERYWHERE - and I love it. One of my favorite flowers, these are sitting on the bookcase next to our bed, and look so nice, it's hard not to consider buying them once a week or so, just because they make me feel so nice when I walk into our room..

Can I See A Difference?

2010-06-10T04:38:00.004-04:00

I'm up early after feeding O - have just put her back in her crib and am waiting to see if I hear anything from her room.... her eyes were open when I left, but so far, no sound is coming from the back of the house..

I was curious to see if I could see the difference in her after a month +. Sometimes if you're looking at something everyday, it's hard to see the changes. I think she's finally beginning to fill out and pick up some of that baby chubbiness and her newborn onsies aren't quite as baggy anymore :) I had to laugh when I saw her little graph at the Dr.'s office - they always show you the percentile that your child is in, and O was in the 12th % for her weight - way down at the bottom of the curve, and the 48th % for her height. These didn't bother me at all, since she started out so tiny, and has been gaining weight steadily, but it was just kind of amusing to see this little creature as a tiny dot in the bottom corner of the computer screen..

So enjoying our visits with my mom - she's here until the 22nd and we are getting thoroughly spoiled - all of us! Our days are slow and filled with naps, homemade meals, daily fresh water for the doggies, and evening walks through the neighborhood. Since I don't live within driving distance of home, I get to stockpile all the grandma goodness until next time..

Ten on ten tomorrow - think I'll try it out for the first time! check out the link on the side to see other very cool ladies doing very fun things with cameras.

Fun with Photobooth

2010-06-01T16:19:00.002-04:00

Enjoyed playing around with photo booth this afternoon and (trying) to catch up on emails while my mom holds Olive (thanks to Kristen for sharing the link for this! I have a feeling I'll be fiddling around with this website a bunch!)

Still hot here and still no air conditioner, so we've been laying low, and eating lots of Popsicles - not a bad way to spend the first days of June.

Hope everyone had a fun Memorial Day weekend - can't wait to see pictures :)

Welcome Summer

2010-05-27T08:57:00.002-04:00

I call the first day of summer when we drag our bed out the porch. This has become quite the tradition with us: sleeping outside when the weather gets too warm and sleeping in front of the fire place when it's too cold. I like this tradition - keeps us from getting stale! It's been quite hot this week, and after a week that was very Seattle-like, the warm weather feels even more stifling. Add to this that we discovered our air conditioner may be on the fritz, and sleeping on the porch was a necessity.

While we waited for Bryan to come home..

2010-05-27T08:22:00.007-04:00

O and her little feet in her Baby Bjorn - the best thing ever invented in my opinion..

And how cute is this clothes rack? Little hearts and ruffles everywhere...

Milo sits and waits, knowing the most exciting part of the day is getting nearer and nearer...

Evening Walks

2010-05-27T08:10:00.004-04:00

Our little routine is pretty loose right now, but we seem to have an evening one fairly well mapped out. Bryan gets home from work and we all lounge around on our bed, enjoying the chance to unwind all together. Then, he either takes the dogs and O for a run/bike ride, or we decide it's too hot and that can wait until later. If that's the case, we take O and go for some sort of outing - lately it's been looking for fishing holes for Bryan when the evening gets cooler. It's fun to pack up the car and head out for a drive - there is something about Indiana in the early summer evening that is so beautiful - the way it looks, even the way it smells. Reminds me a lot of early summer in Pennsylvania. Last night we drove down to the little river by our house - the White Lick, and Bryan fished while I strolled with O. The peonies out here in Indiana bloom every summer like crazy - there's so many of them, they just fall over themselves. One of these falls I'll get it together enough to plant some at our house...

One Month In..

2010-05-24T16:23:00.003-04:00

Week 4 is upon us. I'm still pretty tired, and still feel pretty desperate when I'm up with her in the middle of the night and NOTHING will prompt her to sleep, but good moments are outweighing the bad i think, and we're sort of flirting with an attempt at a routine, so these things are all happy bullet points to hold on to.. I get down way to easy (this has always been the case, not just a baby -related syndrome), and have to constantly remind myself that all is not lost, the world isn't ending, and that this too shall pass (whatever "this" happens to be). ironically, i know that i love this little newborn olive, and that i love the cuddly, small stage that she is in, and that she won't be this small again.. its that balance again - trying to find it is always a challenge.

bryan's parents were out this past week, and how nice it was to have them here - we did NOTHING besides look at olive and keep strange hours - grandma and grandpa helping out with late night rocking and shooshing. olive is lucky to have such a great set of grandparents from both sides - all of whom are happy to hop on a plane and come and visit us, hold her when she's doing the mysterious baby fussing, and get her to sleep only the way grandparents know how..

i think summer has arrived in indy - we've started closing up the house during the day, eating large amounts of ice cream and Popsicles, and listening to milo do some non-stop panting at night. I've got two books open at the moment - both great ones for early summer: Botany of Desire (sent for Bryan from my mom, but I've stolen it for the moment) and Half-Magic, a book my dad read to me during the summers when I was younger..

Today has been lazy, but I'm still not sure how it's almost 5pm already. I'm not sure how moms do anything - how do you have energy to do anything? our biggest activity today was a walk around the block - laundry is done but not put away (about 4 loads), dishes dirty, dogs not walked...

First Day Home By Ourselves

2010-05-11T15:44:00.006-04:00

So today is our first day officially home by ourselves - big deal for us! So far, Olive and I are both intact and doing okay. We didn't have much of a schedule - i find the goal for these first days is to shoot for low standards and then be happy when we successfully complete them! Today we've put away laundry, straightened up a little, and took a trip to the doctor, where we tested my blood pressure - 120/77! So much lower than it has been the past few weeks - this is great news. Now we're just waiting for Bryan to get home to have a quiet evening - maybe I'll sneak a quick nap in beforehand..

Olive is sleeping peacefully now, napping on our spare bed/couch like the princess and the pea. .

2010-05-10T04:33:00.003-04:00

welcome Olive Magdalena Fine

born April 27th, 2010 @ 8.22pm

6 lbs., 5 oz 19.5 inches long

Full day ahead of us

2008-06-15T08:08:00.002-04:00

Yesterday we attacked our Saturday with gusto, with me up on the roof cleaning out the gutters and bryan piecing together our guest bathroom. everything here in indiana (maybe the entire midwest) grows so quickly! Our yard must be mowed at least once a week, though it would probably benefit from two times, and the gutters! Wow - i had no idea vegitation could grow like that - we had been a little lax during the winter, and then when a big storm came, a big gust put tons of leaves and debris in them and all of a sudden we had more growth in the gutters than in the garden.

Speaking of our garden, i think we're going to forgo planting our main one this summer, which is kind of sad - we both look forward to the fresh veggies so much, but this year Bryan tried to start ours early from seed and they were doing great until they had two run ins with puppy Delilah and then got rain soaked when we moved them outside. I guess we'll redouble our efforts for next year.

Yesterday we had planned on having some friends over for a bbq, and we scurried around, cleaning, dusting, arranging this and that - only to decide to go to their house at the last second :) Okay by us really, the clean house was a treat to come home to.

Now I'm up and going to work for a little bit on class preparation and Bryan is in the next room, enjoying the sunny morning by sleeping. .

Sunday Morning

2008-06-08T08:34:00.003-04:00

Got on up and on the road early this morning for a run - did about 3 miles, which isn't a ton, but it felt good and i dont think either i or the doggies wanted to run much more in the heat. Summer running is tricky here - Bryan doesn't mind running in the warm weather, but it kills me so i have to try and get up early to beat the sunshine. Doggies did good - only 2 barks along the way - one at a man on a bicycle (delilah) and one at a man running towards us (delilah). Now they chewing on ice cubes and trying to cool down.

My agenda today looks like errands, and some work, and then i must watch federer and nadal in the french open final - those two are great. seriously - what a rivalry.

Slow Saturday

2008-06-07T18:52:00.005-04:00

Saturday here and somehow its already become the evening. I had such big plans for today - clean the house, do laundry, and mainly to work on my classes that i will be teaching in the fall. sadly, nothing but laundry got done today - i was so lazy! We've been having extremely strange weather out here lately, so i will partially blame that - when i woke up this morning and until about 2.30 this afternoon, it was pouring so hard our road in front of the house was covered. But now its beautiful outside, and the sunshine and the dogs seem to be begging me to stop being a couch potato. Maybe its because June is our slow month - we've got visitors all through July and then a trip home in August planned, then the day we get back its back to work and classes right away.. maybe im just cherishing this down time while i have it??

Bryan's in new york for the weekend - actually new york and boston. he's got such a good adventure planned - New York for the Belmont Stakes race, then catching the chinatown bus to Boston to see the Mariners play the Red Sox, and then to a sports bar to participate in the home town buzz while the celtics play the lakers. He's with the same buddies that he went to an AirSupply concert with this last February, so he'll probably have some good stories to tell when he gets back.

i made a list the other day of all the things that are "on my plate" - sometimes when i do this it makes me feel less stressed: after writing them down, i dont need to keep them in my head anymore. I really want to learn to manage stress better, and how to keep my expectations and what i think others think better under control. Anyway, it seems like I've got several things sort of looming in front of me, that i really want to be good, manageable experiences, and I'm trying to come up with ways of going about them that ensure that. Does that make any sense at all?

Here's a quick catch up about what we've been up to since the middle of winter:
*Visited bryans family in san jose and loved every minute of it - it felt so good to have california sunshine on me!
*Ran in the Saint Pattys Day Dash in seattle with my family!
* Bryan and I our first 1/2 marathon in May, with both of us finishing in better times than we had thought - we're now signed up for another one in October and in the process of trying to find bicycles to do some biking events.
*most exciting of all, bryan and i got engaged in april! he proposed on my birthday and we're thinking aug 09 for the day. farther away then we both wanted, but think its the most do-able short of just going to city hall. right now we're busy trying to find a place where we'll be pronounced mr. and mrs. it seems hard to believe that i even just wrote that - that we'll be man and wife!such excitement.. and all the years in front of us. ..

A Month

2008-02-07T16:04:00.000-05:00

Almost a month since my last post - wow. In that time we've had visits from both our parents, stocked up the freezer with moms cooking, finished the bathroom (!), as well as some other exciting things around the house.

We leave on Saturday for a quick trip to San Jose to visit Bryan's family down there and the sun will feel so good! i know it will only be two days for me, but i plan on soaking it up as much as i can.

We also just got a new camera - today! So i'll be sure and post some new pics and get back into the swing of things here on the homefront.

2008-01-08T13:20:00.000-05:00

I love living in a place where its okay to drive down the middle of the street, or that when you turn onto a road, you may encounter people out for an evening walk with their dogs, .........in the middle of the street. There's something really appealing to me about being in a place that isn't so involved with daily life that it requires sidewalks and yellow lines. If you drive from out of our neighborhood and turn right and head down the road, pretty soon you leave behind the busy intersections and get to places where corn and soybeans are grown and cars just yield to one another.

On a side note, our camera has been acting a little special lately, so i guess i'll be offering up mainly prose while we look into to fixing that little guy.

2008-01-01T19:44:00.000-05:00

We brought in the new year with Oatmeal Raisin cookies Minus the Raisins, Plus Chocolate Chips. This is what we decided to have for dinner :)

Resolutions

2008-01-01T09:32:00.000-05:00

I wonder, if i post them, will they work better? Maybe, I guess I'll go ahead and throw them out there, in the spirit of the New Year:

*Successfully complete (running) Indy Half Marathon in May. This involves not just crossing the finish line, but training properly and with a regimen. I do not want this to feel like some last minute school project or volleyball preseason camp that i can squirm my way through - i really want to be ready. (and do Carmen Electra's workout tape so i can become as sexy as her - I'm sort of joking on that one, but I would be happier with some shedding of my winter layers. this isn't anything that I'm obsessed with, and i figure the above resolution will help take care of this latter detail, but sometimes i do wish i was a girl that was really really good at motivating myself. I mean, when i was playing volleyball, i was really enjoying the activity, working out almost everyday, and being told what to do by coaches - and i think that was a huge part of my success, as lame as it sounds. I just don't think i could have gotten the same results in the weight room or on the court without a coach telling or yelling, or without a list of weights to do, with this much resistance etc. Hopefully this doesn't mean I'm a lazy good-for-nothing, but instead simply recognizes that i need a schedule, or some kind of structure to really kick start my workouts. That's what I've really struggled with since I've stopped playing is hating the activities *see below resolution - and just not getting out there enough. its also a little challenging here in Indiana, without the help of the incredible outdoors that Seattle has to offer, or with the really active population that live there. But that's not really a good excuse, and hopefully this year we'll finally put Bryan's "best hikes of Indiana" book to good use.)

*Stop hating running. I really do hate it, but its not that conducive to my task.

*Make my doggies well behaved ones. Mainly the areas i want to work on are greeting strangers, THE DOORBELL issue that Milo has, and being around small kids. I don't really care about the smaller things like being on the furniture - if my dogs are good around wee ones and Milo doesn't sound like he's going to eat the person on the other side of the door, call me happy.

*Financial responsibility. This is a little broad i know, but mainly it involves paying off some debt i have and really getting things going with saving and just being more aware of where my money goes, how i spend, and what i want to spend it on. Somehow, even though i have more than i enough, i always end up feeling like i don't, and i think this is essentially poor management skills on my part.

That's all of them, really just four, but I've really been kicking these around in my head the past few days and feel good about them. These are areas of my life that i spend a lot of time fretting about, and not enough time actively working to change, so i think this is a really honest, thought out list for me and i look forward to trying to tackle these challenges in my life. I tried to keep the really really subjective things off the list, since those are sooo hard to measure, and they can be a little silly, so its best to keep those in my head. However, here's my one real fantastical one, just because it really wouldn't be Jesse without something not based in reality, now would it?

*Just this morning i read this story about a lady (actually an ex-model, which is why i think they ran the story) who was oh so tired of the modeling world and needed a new adventure. So what did she decide to do? She moved to Alaska and opened a kennel for homeless and abused Musher dogs!! I mean, how neat does that sound? She now runs her kennel AND trains the some of the younger dogs and is competing in the dog race this year. So that's my fantastical new years resolution - move to Alaska (or montana), build a cabin (with either heat under the floor or a really cozy main room with loft where all the heat rises to), and rescue all the dogs in the world.

I did think about resolving to water the plant in our room, or to squirm less when we're going to bed, but really i think there's more of chance of me moving to alaska and saving all the dogs in the world than doing either of those!

2008!

2008-01-01T09:05:00.000-05:00

What do you have in store for us? Lackadaisical on posting, but really loving the time off Bryan and i have had from work - the week between Christmas and New Years always seems like work is almost something you go to as a second thought.

Christmas was quiet and fun this year - The night before we had dinner with Bryan's boss and his wife, sampling grapefruit and champagne, eating truffles (instead of the dog eating them this time) and generally just enjoying each others company. Shelley and Mike had cooked up the works - turkey, ham, dressing (stuffing on the west coast), and all the fixings - its funny to see the difference in energy in everyone from before we ate, to after - sitting on the couch, yawning. the sign of a good meal i guess! Between the 4 of us, there were 7 dogs there in attendance, adding to the wildness of the evening - it wasn't so much relaxing as mostly hilarious.

The next two days brought mainly reading and having fun at home, trips to dog parks and introductions to a Bloodhound whose name was Arlo, adventure walks in nearby parks and the discovery of a sledding hill without snow on it, perfect for Frisbee chasing. Ah yes, and there was an incident with Carmen Electra's Striptease Instruction video tape - which gives you such a good workout, in your belly from laughing so much! Good times... :) We also ate very well, due mainly to my new curry cookbook from bryan (although i think we may be curried out for a little while). I was so excited about it, i made several dishes right in a row, and i think there's only so much a person can take all at once.

Last night we hunkered down and stayed in with Bryan daring me to stay up to midnight (done!) and shouting Happy New Year to our neighbors who were banging pots and pans with as much gusto as little rugrats can (which the dogs thought was really neat, so they started with their own, natural noise making. I put on a Very sparkly pink party dress and slippers, so i think between all of us, we mustered a pretty decent welcome to the new year. Maybe not as decent as Fergie, who was shaking it on tv, but im okay with that. At the moment it is is COLD, and WINDY making our planned day of reading and just hanging around look even more appealing. Happy new year everyone - i cant wait to see what it brings.....

2007-12-23T16:24:00.000-05:00

Christmas presents are flying their way out west, everything is bought for my little family here, and i just got back from the grocery store with the ingredients for gingerbread that we're bringing to our Christmas Eve dinner. Its snowing outside, and oh so cold and windy - perfect for watching football and putting my feet up just a little longer..
Merry Christmas Everyone!

Thursday Morning - almost the weekend!

2007-12-20T07:22:00.000-05:00

It's been so long since i've sat down and blogged - I do apologize! In the past two weeks we've had lots of adventures: new puppy habits to get used to, snow storm, then an ice storm, then some more snow to make it interesting (Casey thanks for asking - i think i actually missed the brunt of the storm when i was in Arizona), a trip to Flagstaff to see a good friend and her new baby, and all the while busyness at work and shopping to get done :) I'm sure all of you are dealing with similar situations.

It's finally slowing down - our packages went out yesterday and the rest of our cards will be mailed out today - bryan has laid down the law and i agree for the most part that next year we will be doing lots more on-line shopping and enlisting elfs back home in seattle to help with the wrapping and labeling - its so much work to shop, wrap, pack, ship, etc. for many many different people!

Anyway, we finally got our tree up and decorated and cleaned our carpets, are picking up more wood tonight, and i think starting saturday we're just going to enjoy the weekend and the holiday coming up. Bryan doesnt have to work on Monday, so once Friday rolls around, we're all set.

Here's some funny pictures of the critters helping to decorate and of our recent snow storm - the blurry one is delilah, she's a little harder to make sit still. Sorry ive been so delinquent, it wont happen again :) i hope! Kristen, i hope little evan feels better soon - and that you and Kyle both do too...

Lunch Time

2007-12-04T12:13:00.000-05:00

Snow in the forecast tonight and tomorrow.

I am excited! We haven't had any so far, except for some flurries here and there, and I feel like a kid wishing as hard as he can for snow so school can be cancelled - part weather report and part magic, yes?

I've been so tired lately, not sure why - its like i cant get enough sleep. We also haven't decorated much yet (or really i havent decorated much yet), just a little advent calendar propped up on our kitchen window. But a box of ornaments arrived yesterday from Bryan's mom full of old ones that they used to hang on their tree. So maybe one of these days soon we'll get a little tree, hang some ornaments from our Christmas's past on it, and it will be a tree fit for two.

Little babies everywhere it seems right now - congrats to all the ladies who are now mammas! I love seeing your pictures and hearing the stories as days go by. Soon I'll be heading out to Flagstaff for a long weekend to visit my wonderful girl Stephanie, who just welcomed her second daughter Lilly. I can't wait to practice holding her - I've only held two babies before - once for about 2 seconds until he started to cry, and once while shopping with a friend and her one year old. I really want to be good at it! Stephanie promised that it would be the perfect time to come - that Lilly will be old enough so i dont feel like i'm going to break her, but still small and baby-like :) I cant wait to get my fill.

Eat, pray, love

2007-11-28T14:42:00.000-05:00

I just finished reading this book last night - it had been kicking around our house for a little while, i think i got it back in summer. Initially, i had been really excited to read it, however after reading a couple bad reviews, i was a little hesitant. Its not that the reviews said that it was badly written, the main criticism was that this was another tale of self-indulgence and what some could call "middle class white girl syndrome" - that is, people finding problems in their lives and then up and leaving them, all to "find themselves" and realign their chakras.

I'm mixed about all this, as you might be able to tell. I love that we have the luxury of therapy should people need it - one of my favorite people in the world is my past councilor, carolyn, a woman i would want to meet for coffee everyday if i could and who has helped me through some very difficult times of self-doubt. I try to approach things in life somewhat holistically, with attention paid to both physical and spiritual well-being. However, i do think that as it so often happens, the goodness of these opportunities has been saturated and now you have people falling over the other side of the line -- people in love with this realization that they can be happy, but in order to do so, must up and leave their families. jobs, husbands and travel to Italy to date a man named carlo (i did love the movie "under the tuscan sun" though - despite the liberties they took with the script!). Little bits of this is good for anyone, but it just seems like people give things up so easily, instead of working through the hardships or the rough spots. I guess what scares me and makes me a little sad is it seems that people have lost the ability to tough things out, or rather to know the difference when to stay and when to change something. There's absolutly exceptions to this rule, when situations are bad and horrible, but I'm talking about the ones where grown people act like 7 year olds and give no thought to their kids, or loved ones when they decide that its best to become a spinning instructor in chicago instead of whatever they were doing yesterday. its that instant gratifiction schtick - know what i mean?

Anyway, i feared that this book would be exactly that - and Hurray because it wasn't! There were no children involved to be thrust to the nanny, and the author was well aware of her decisions and their consequences. Not once in the book did i feel that this was a whiny self indulgent midlife crisis character, rather the opposite - a strong, searching, honest, and open woman who had the means and the schedule to adventure around on a spiritual and joyful journey. it was a wonderful read, a perfect escape from the cold weather here.

Getting into Gear

2007-11-27T16:48:00.000-05:00

So it looks like, come May 3rd, i will be participating in the Indianapolis Half-Marathon - running with Bryan and Angie, a friend of his from highschool that's flying in special for this from NYC. I haven't participated in a race since i think i was about 9 and i did the saint patricks day dash in downtown seattle. Neat i think, but very scary. Good though, as we will be "training" and simoultaniously tiring our doggies out.

2007-11-27T07:04:00.000-05:00

A few days late (supposed to be cooked on Thanksgiving) but just as delicious - Pumpkin Eggnog Pound Cake with Cranberries. Yum.

And a the requisite picture of the pups - what better way to followup breakfast than with wrestling?

Afternoon Aftermath

2007-11-26T22:46:00.001-05:00

Casualties from one puppy:

One pink Nike flipflop
One box of honey crisp apples (apples and the box)
One Sweet potato
3 pingpong balls (chewed not eaten)
1 pair of mens boxers (how did she get those!?) on living room floor

We are now enacting Opertaion Crate Delilah. Still leaving her out at night to sleep on her bed, but boy is she ever getting crated during the day. maybe until she's 72.

Monday Morning

2007-11-26T09:11:00.000-05:00

Ok, I fear for a little bit this might become a doggy blog, or at least until that stops being in the forefront of my mind. Bear with me - I promise i will stop at some point!

We've had Delilah now for 5 days - whoa! Today is the first day her and milo have the house to themselves, although really they just have the run of the garage and living room. they've been playing like mad, and by mad i mean like two 12 and 14 year old boys, with enough teeth on neck action to prompt Bryan into saying "i hope you never have two boys" because i was constantly looking at the two of them uneasily. I admit it - i worry. I try to stop it and then the worries just come rolling back over me! So i guess this will be a good time to try and cut that out eh? Bryan's going home to check on them this afternoon at lunch and hopefully there will still be 2 dogs, 1 cat, and some relativly intact living space for two humans.

It's funny though, how much like kids these two are. Milo, who has never been a huge eater, and who we've struggled with to get weight on his bones, is now the worlds best eater. If Delilah eats, Milo will twice as much. If she wants to drink, he'll put her to shame with slobbering up twice as much water. its pretty funny how he tries to out-do her in everything. She of course, goads him on - again and again and again, stirring him up again when they've finally gotten setttled down.

Back at work today - isnt it funny how its always that much harder to go back to work after you've had mucho time off? It was a huge task to get out of bed this morning, out from under the oh so warm flannel comforter and pillowcases and into the rainy wet to walk the beasts. In other weekend news though, we found an Indian grocery store! this was awesome - so much mint chutney to be had! It was a great store, and I'm sure I will be back to investigate, although this time i wont bring two dogs, one of whom apparently likes onion naan.

Also, I found the blog of my friend, outstanding vballer of the past, Jackie! How cool it was to find her online and get reconnect and see what she's up to. One of the many perks of the internet i think. We're having turkey soup tonight (the last of our leftovers - yeeeesss!) and we'll probably watch the Pburgh v. Miami to see if i hold onto my league in fantasy football and pickem!

morning before everyone wakes up

2007-11-24T08:15:00.001-05:00

Its morning here - Bryan is still sleeping, there's frost on the grass outside, and the light is just starting to get bright. I'm up with the pups and enjoying the mellow time together - they did so good last night, each sleeping on their own bed the whole night and until this morning when i woke them to take them out.

Success outside and now their both back on their beds snoozing, and its just me and fargus here at the dining room table (fargus who helped himself to the turkey carcas this morning :)!) and who is now tucking himself into the pile of jackets and scarves by the door. What a good making for a saturday morning so far. Are you all still on turkey overload too?

Heart and Belly Full

2007-11-23T21:28:00.001-05:00

Meet Delilah, Milo and Fargus's new sister and our newest addition to our little family.

We've been talking about getting another dog for a little while, going back and forth about the pros and cons and finally decided that we were more in favor than opposed. We looked a little bit, and finally found her on Thanksgiving day - what a meaningful day for all of us!

I think we're full up on cats and dogs now and won't be feeling any pangs for adoption again anytime soon - but how neat it is to see the two dogs learn to play with each other and be part of the same pack. Fargus is a little less pleased, but i think we'll do fine - if he could make it through a Milo introduction than i think we can handle one with delilah. The only thing is their both just really really interested in him, and that annoys him a bit.

Its funny to see Milo as the older and wiser dog now - but already he seems so sage and above all her puppy antics. He's interested in her every now and then, but when she comes to lie down next to him, he'll kind of roll his eyes and get up, wandering over to the couch or his bed.

Our holiday has been a quiet one, but a really nice one. Bryan cooked the works for
us, and we enjoyed a full table, and a full house due to our new member. Today we took an inaugural trip to the doggie park which ended up being so much fun - Delilah ran and ran with every dog, wooing every one while Milo caught air doing his frisbee tricks. It was nice also to sit and chat with the people at the park, who almost always are so nice and laid back.

I've been kind of down lately, not really sure why, i think it's a mixture of a bunch of things, but this time at home away from work for the long weekend has really come in handy - getting to take long walks with bryan, play Scrabble and ping pong, and of course keep an eye on the "kids" - these are all good things for the blues!

I got to talk to all sorts of family and friends this weekend, and realized how many people i have in my life that are special - a family who loves me and calls all the time, a boyfriend who is wonderful, friends that surround me from all coasts - and here i am, right in the middle of all the love. its funny - when people have asked me if i'm homesick now that it's the holiday season i usually answer no, its not the specific day that i miss, but rather the every day stuff like dinner at aunts and uncles, or random moments with parents, brothers and friends that are so easily accessible for drop-ins when their all within driving and walking distance.

This thanksgiving I've also thought a lot about all the different places I've spent the holiday - how many different homes I've been in during the past 10 years - moms and dads, and phyllis and scotts, then all my thanksgivings when i was taken in by friends during college - and that one thanksgiving in a hotel in Florida with the UW volleyball team! and now for the past three years its been thanksgiving here with bryan- so funny all those different ways to celebrate the people around us. I know that we aren't perfect by any means, and that sometimes cherishing those around us and in our lives means having taken them for granted at some point - but tonight I'm really appreciative for everyone that has included me in their thoughts and lives - i love getting passed around on the phone and hearing all 14 people at dads house - so much commotion in the background! I loved getting all the comments on my blog from the blog girls - an group that i love even without having met all of them - it seems like such a good group of girls :) and all the texts that i got, saying happy turkey day from far away - too good to be true..

How we spend our evenings sometimes

2007-11-21T07:19:00.000-05:00

I know I've posted a lot of cat and dog pictures lately - but i cant convey how cool i think it is that Fargus and Milo are finally tolerant of each other and can stand the indignities of sharing a bed. This is cause for celebration in my humble opinion. Bryan was confident that this would happen eventually, but I'm over the moon about it!

Milo finished up his shy and reactive doggie class last night, with a graduation certificate and everything. I think more than anything i now have more knowledge and know how about how to train him than i did before. he's not cured of his fear of little girls and garbage cans yet, but i think he's getting there slowly.

We've been sleeping in the living room in front of the fire for the past week, a guilty pleasure that we started when it was cold out and the heat from the fire place wasn't quiiite making it back to our bedroom. The thing is though, i dont think either one of us thought we'd like it as much as we do! I'm sure the novelty will wear off sometime soon, but for now, we're both content to hit the sack on our mattress in the living room, sort of like camping indoors. I never thought i'd say this but for once its really nice not to have family or friends near by, as we'd feel kind of strange trying to explain the huge bed right in the middle of the room...

2007-11-15T16:04:00.000-05:00

Word has it that snowflakes were falling from the sky earlier this afternoon here in Indianapolis. Winter is here. . . . and i am so happy for it.

Home soon to run with Bryan and the dog and then to build a Big fire to sit in front of all night long.

The Boys

2007-11-14T22:31:00.000-05:00

This doesn't happen very much around here, but with the weather getting a little colder, fargus and milo are having to deal with each other more and more, and on rare occassion, it seems like they can actually tolerate each other!
here's all of us snuggling this past Saturday night, i had gotten home late from an event and was very receptive to warm, furry animals.

Milo's classes are going okay and they end next week, right before thanksgiving. I still have yet to really learn how to get him to focus on me rather than on the object or person that makes him scared/frightened, but i think if i contineu to work on the things we've talked about in class things can only swing upward. For graduation next week, we have to teach our dog a trick. I haven't decided yet what I want to teach milo, i'm thinking maybe a wave or take a bow.. or maybe beg?

And last but not least, a fun picture taken with some of my coworkers, before all of us headed home. It's so rare that we all get together in clothes that aren't business casual, so we recorded for posterity's sake.

More Hawks v Browns.

2007-11-14T22:02:00.001-05:00

Hawks V Browns

2007-11-14T21:48:00.000-05:00

The weekend in Cleveland was fun - Bryan and I drove over on Saturday morning on a beautiful day and pulled into the city just in time to pick up our friend cicie at the airport - from there we checked into our amazing hotel (bryan out did himself on the lodging){we were staying at the same hotel as the Seahawks and saw Shawn Alexander in the elevator!!} and went out for a walk. Later on that night we met Meg and Greg and directed amy into town via the phone...all was perfect.

The next day, Sunday Morning, we hopped up (a process made slower by having 7 people involved, 4 of us women) and met two friends down at the stadium for tailgating. On our way, we stopped to make sure we could get Amy some Boca Brat, which we found uber-easy. Our tailgating experience ended up being great - we met some awesome new people and i also have never been yelled at so many times in my life (due to my seahawks gear in Brown territory). Our seats were in the Dawg Pound (scary!) but all in all in went well - grand tally was no fighting :), Amy got asked out once, I got asked to dance once, and Greg saw one man in the bathroom pee, but forget to unzip his pants. It's probably a good thing that the Browns won, its much easier dealing with happy rabid fans then sad ones.

I think a fun weekend was had by all - and home again we turned our car on Monday morning, to pick up our doggy and crawl into our own bed - always the best feeling! it was so neat to see all those other seattle fans - i felt like i had something in common with all of them, a little bit of home in each one!

I don't know where you find these things.....

2007-11-08T23:59:00.000-05:00

Jesse,
I love the "what kind of holiday food are you and the what flower are you?". Sort of the 2000 version of "flower power". I, by the way, am a daffodil. I finished the alchemist. What next?
Mom

Colder and Cozier

2007-11-07T11:04:00.001-05:00

You Are a Gingerbread House

A little spicy and a little sweet, anyone would like to be lost in the woods with you.

What Holiday Food Are You?

Oh winter - I am so happy you're coming. I mean, i know - sometimes late at night when i have to take milo out, i moan and groan at putting on all the layers and layers of warm clothes, but really i do love this time of year. I want to bake, wrap, tie ribbons, decorate, drink steaming mugs of cider and hot chocolate, and basically just surround myself with holiday festivities. I have several little projects lined up that i want to do this year, but I'll keep them secret for now, in case i don't get to them!

Racoon Lake

2007-11-01T16:52:00.000-04:00

I just found these pictures (some of my favorites), taken almost a year ago from our trip out to Racoon Lake, which is a park near our house. We had such a fun time there - no one was around so we let milo off leash and he loved running around sniffing everything. He discovered ice for the first time and we all just spent they day bundled up, hiking and enjoying the beauty of the day. That very night it snowed for the first time that winter, and we woke up to a completely different world..

2007-11-01T16:02:00.000-04:00

It's been busy this week - not sure why. Monday came and went and then zoom! Thursday already! Time fills with doggy classes, dinners to cook, commutes, etc. Bryan and i stocked up on candy for our Trick or Treaters and guess how many we got!? A big whopping 0! Very disappointing, but understandable i guess since we're the youngest in our neighborhood, everyone else seems to have grown children for the most part.

This weekend we're heading out to Cleveland for the Seattle Seahawks game and meeting up with some friends and family while there - should be fun, I'm looking forward to driving out of town with Bryan, popping in a cd and kicking back. Long weekends are such treats....

2007-10-28T21:26:00.000-04:00

Tonight has been listening to wonderful music, making pumpkin chocolate chip cookies, talking to my dad, playing frisbee and football with bryan and milo, folding clothes and watching fargus sleep on the pillow, cozy and warm, still smelling of the outside fresh air.

Yesterday Bryan had to work a little bit and I met a friend to go shopping with her and her almost 11 month olf baby - how good it felt to spend some time with her, chatting and trying on clothes. I brought home a new pot for making hot chocolate and matching mugs that hold lots of warm milk and whipped cream.

I folded clothes tonight while watching Anne of Avonlea, loving every minute of Anne's adventures, just as i always have.

Happy Sunday night dreams..

One of my Favorite places

2007-10-23T09:02:00.000-04:00

I've been thinking a lot about this bookstore lately - its one of my favorites in seattle, and it always seems to be such a warm, welcoming place on cold winter days. When my i was younger my dad worked downtown across the street from the Kingdome and on days when i would go into work with him, good behavior was almost always rewarded with a trip to Elliott Bay Bookstore. We'd stop by Dome Burger for lunch and eat upstairs overlooking Pioneer Square, and then we'd head over to the bookstore after lunch, and i'd be allowed to pick out a book. In the evening, before we caught the bus home by the funny triangle shaped building in Chinatown, we might head over to the bakery on Pioneer Square, who sold loaves in the shape of bunnies.

Both my parents always encouraged reading - anytime we headed to a bookstore it seems like i was allowed to pick out one or two things to bring home. Sometimes mom, renick and i would have dinner at Toshi's down in Kenmore and stop at the B Dalton next door before going home and I would get the new Christopher Pike or Fear Street. And bookorders - do you remember those? Oh my gosh, I'd go crazy, picking out 7-8 books and then that magical day when you got back in from recess to find them sitting on your desk, in a nice stack, waiting to be taken home and read! We also walked a lot when we were kids, child abuse at the time, but one of the great Friday night walks was from Koren and dads over on 4th and Latona to the U bookstore, where dad could leave me happily sitting on the floor by the Nancy Drews while he kept an eye on me from a distance.

After Our Walk

2007-10-23T07:05:00.001-04:00

Our walk this morning was wet and windy, perfect for trying out my new boots (thanks mom!) that were recommended by Jenny over at Renton for Life! They're perfect, and oh so cute - i think Milo might have been jealous that he didn't have a pair. The rain has been pouring since yesterday afternoon, making milo's walks and runs a little less enjoyable as he tries to scoot along and not get wet. its hilarious to watch him try and fold down his giant ears to keep the water from going in them. Yesterday, as we ran home, i think it was the first time in a long time that Milo has led the way, frisbee clutched in mouth, ears back, soo eager to get back home and dry off in front of the fire.
Ps - i guess i should clip his nails - they look so long!

Weekend Update

2007-10-21T18:02:00.000-04:00

I've been slow posting this month, for no real particular reason. I've been spending lots of time reading, being busy at work, and just relaxing in general. This weekend went fast though, so here's some pics of what we've been keeping ourselves occupied with...
We're still in limbo with our master bathroom, and this Saturday Bryan and I drove up to one of the guys' apartments to get some of the supplies they had to finish up ourselves. The picture shows Bryan in the bathroom, installing our lights - i don't know how he knows how to do it, but it pretty much impresses the socks off me. We now have 5 beautiful recessed lights in our previously dark bathroom, and even though it can be a tinsy bit overwhelming to look at how much there is to do, its so impressive and encouraging to see the results of the work he did today.
We also finished up our guest bedroom, as good as its going to get. I have some places on the baseboards that are splattered with paint, but we figure that they're going to get replaced anyway when we rip up the carpet. So besides removing the tape from the windows and getting new blinds, we're pretty much all set in that room. It feels nice, and we both are happy with the way the colors came out, even though their both different than we expected them to be.
Oh, and i threw in a picture of our new wood burning stove insert, basically our Christmas present to each other this year, and a welcome addition to the house. So far we haven't turned the heat on once, and I'll be curious to see how the little guy does when its really cold outside.
We went out to breakfast this morning - there's one little pancake house in our town that gets PACKED on Sundays, but we were able to sit out in the sun and enjoy the morning..the best thing about this place is its hot chocolate, that came out with Halloween sprinkles on top of the whipped cream - i don't think I'll ever out grow my love for sprinkles..
Tonight we're having a last day of summer dinner and watching the baseball game that starts in a few hours. it sounds like a lovely way to cap off the weekend, so i better head to the store real quick to get our ingredients!

here is the mother of mother daughter

2007-10-13T11:35:00.000-04:00

So here I am. Now I am not sure just how to get this going but I am sure we will. I am still excited about the idea of a mother-daughter blog and I know it will be good. Thank you, daughter for the invitation and helping the "old brain" with the technology.
I started reading the Alchemist Thursday night and I LOVE IT. I thought I had tried before and couldn't get into it but wow, I can't wait.
mom

2007-10-05T07:31:00.000-04:00

We're having an Indian Summer out here in Indiana - so much so that last night, after we had both crawled into bed, we decided it was much to hot and went out to sleep in the hammock on the porch. We were great until about 4 in the morning when i got too cold and hopped back into bed.

Because of the nice weather forecasted this weekend, i think we're hoping to head outdoors and do something fun, maybe rent a boat and float around on Eagle Creek Reservoir or something like that.. until then, I'll just enjoy my oatmeal and raspberries before i head out the door.

Good evening

2007-10-03T19:49:00.000-04:00

Hello there. it's dusk here in Indiana, milo and i are getting ready to head out for our nightly walk - he's got a blinking light we turn on his collar so that everyone can see us from miles away.

its been a off beat couple of weeks here, as our daily routine is sort of jumbled - bryan's been traveling the last 3 of 4 weeks and i've been holding down the fort in the interim. tonight im going to try and hit the bed early and get a good nights sleep - i just dont sleep as well when bryan's gone and find myself staying up way past bedtime -then everything's just out of sorts for the following day. so this night will be a little bit of straightening up, walking the pup, and crawling into bed early to read.

i hope this weekend we can head out for a hike or something, even if its close to home and not too challenging - just something to get out and get moving on these beautiful days - its so much different than running, or working out in the gym. my mom called to say that the mountains are expecting snow this weekend and i was surprised to find that the news made me a little homesick for all the adventures that lie outside doors in the northwest. just a little bit.

Not too much new going on in our neck of the woods - milo and i have a doggy obediance class starting in a week and a half which will be good and i've started to get our november 4th football game on my radar - a group of us are meeting in cleveland to watch the browns play the hawks - i've been looking forward to this since last spring when they announced the schedule - we've got the tickets safely tucked in our top drawer where they'll stay until its time to hit the road! Bryan and i are heading out friday or saturday and taking a detour through Ohio Wine Country (Who Knew there was one?!) then hitting Cleveland to meet up with the gang before the game - my face paint and hawks jersey is ready to go!

We finally got our new wood burning stove put in and love it! We started using it the night we got it. I'll post some pictures as soon as the camera (that has all the pics that we took on it!) returns - we're looking forward to winter nights with the fireplace going, and i think it looks much better than our old gold fireplace that was here when we moved in.

So we'll say good night here from our house - the dog, the cat, myself, one spider and one grasshopper that both managed to make their way inside that i couldnt bring myself to kill, but not to live with either - my solution? Towels - lots of towels placed over them - out of sight, out of mind works well for me.

2007-09-25T18:19:00.000-04:00

This is a good man. A funny, 100% awesome man that lets me take hilarious pictures of him. And whose return home I'm very much looking forward to.

2007-09-25T16:13:00.000-04:00

Today has been a wash - isnt that awful? i mean, i just dont have much to say about today really - it was an experience of blahness. I plan on loving my walk out of work though, stopping by a flower store to get some flowers for the house, talking to the dog, enjoying the quiet evening and early to bed with a good book.

Bryans been off in Atlanta this week, so its been low-key on the homefront, mainly consisting of walks and cycling classes. I have yet to finish up the painting in the guest room - i have decided i am the worst painter ever. well maybe not the worst ever, but i just dont make any improvements! so if you ever come to our house, dont look too closely at the edges and borders of things...

Seen on a Doggy's Tag

2007-09-25T16:09:00.000-04:00

I wander.
Feed me
Love me
Release me

I love that.

2007-09-20T16:46:00.000-04:00

So i made it successfully out of the house this morning with matching shoes, something that i discvered was not the case on tuesday morning! they were both brown, but alas, one was a heel, and the other a wedge :)

the chimney man comes tonight to bestow bryan and i with a wood burning stove - what will this bring? hopefully warm and cozy nights and days during the winter, warm tootsies, and a lower heating bill. I cant wait to see what it will look like.

Bryan leaves on sunday for another week away on business - this time he's off to Atlanta - ive got no plans for while he's gone, aside from tuning in to the Office season premier (pam and jim finally go on a date!) and waiting to hear if my friends little baby decides to make an entrance. sounds like a good week to me.

We're painting our two extra rooms and hope to be done before bryans aunt and little cousin come to visit us the second week of october - maybe thats what ill work on next week :)

2007-09-16T08:50:00.000-04:00

Good morning on this sunny Sunday -- just a quick post this AM. Bryan and i have eaten well this weekend - we discovered a new Sushi restaruant on "our" side of town on Friday which is a big deal since every time either one of us suggests sushi, we have to drive all the way back down town or to the northwest side and we're never very motivated to do that - this place was great: small, cozy and pretty - cheap and good! we will def visit again.

We also went out last night (!) with Bryans boss and his wife, who we hadnt seen in a long time (or me at least) - we went to a new Brazilian restaurant were they bring your meat around on big sword like skewers and you just flip a card to green when you want more, red when you want to stop. It was fun - but im still full! i think today will be a nice laid-back day of homemade sandwiches and juice :)

Speaking of homemade - I think i'm going to make an apple/pear crisp this morning. They're so good during the fall, and so easy to make...but....
kristen gough - what are those dutch baby creations that i've heard about, and how does one go about making them?

have a wonderful sunday friends, and know that we will be watching the seahawks trounce over their opponents!

Dear Mom

2007-09-13T08:43:00.001-04:00

Remember when i was little and sometimes i would get to stay home late from school because you would do my hair in lots of curls and put it up in a banana clip - then i would go to school with a note and beaaautiful hair? hahaha - that was fun. I guess i sort of did the same thing this morning - because of my headache, i told work i would be coming in late and then i thought "well, if im late all ready i may as well look nice too." So i had my own version of our mornings - drying my hair pretty, putting on some makeup, wearing fun clothes and i just had to laugh because it reminded me of our mornings back in the day!

I love this skirt because it reminds me so much of the "dots" candy that we used to get - remember the kind on paper that were all different colors all arranged so nicely? i always used to get those on our way back from Hike's house in Mass when we would stop by that HUGE candy store.

Kamper - this morning is def. a Stila blush pot morning and lots of it - rosy cheeks all around! Say hi to all those fishermen hoisting lobsterpots for me this morning :)

Kristen (or Mrs. Gough!) - I'm reading Lust for Life by irving stone. How funny is it that we're both reading books about van gogh!? not a happy man, but an interesting read.. i loved your last post - and many thanks for your response to my email - i cant tell you how much i love hearing from you and whats going on in your days, thoughts in your heart and mind, etc. enjoy your shower this weekend you full-term mama!

Good times.

Morning Goodness

2007-09-13T08:20:00.000-04:00

I had a headache last night, one that required my usual fail-safe strategy to make it go away (throwing up) to be put into effect not just once, but twice. But when i woke up this morning, hopped in the shower and saw my new Strawberry Banana body wash I knew i was turning over a leaf since last night - it will be a good day!

AND.... Bryan gets home today (hurray!).. not sure when, as he likes to be mysterious about things like arrival times, etc.. but i am so looking forward to it

(kamper - sadly, as you can see my bodywash isnt from lush. Wouldnt it be great to take ourselves on a no limit shopping spree there? Can you imagine all the goodies we would splurge on?!)

Autumn Afternoon

2007-09-12T18:16:00.001-04:00

I challenge any day this fall to be as perfect and beautiful as this one is. I know its early but really - this day is breathtaking. I just got home from a looong day - work is starting to pick up for the fall and winter (which is nice) but it means longer hours. i walked in the door and let the sunshine fill the house - opened windows, and just want this evening to last forever. Milo and i went outside and brushed his hair, donating it to the birds nests and other critters that might want it, and then we checked the garden, slowly going wild, and played a mini game of Frisbee. Tonight I'll do some laundry and vacuum, and probably read after dinner - I'm reading two books - hitchhikers guide and a biography of vincent van gogh - two books that are NOT boring at all :)

What do girls with large curiously behaved German Sheps make for dinner?

2007-09-11T06:58:00.000-04:00

Good morning.

milo and i just got back from our walk in the cool and windy morning air, and now i've got to get ready for work - shower, eat, and drive away!

Bryan's gone for this week in Oklahoma so its just me and the critters holding down the fort - we miss him, but now i get to sing without shame when im cleaning up the kitchen or making dinner, something i try to keep to a minimum as it pains bryan's poor ears.

so pretty

2007-09-04T09:22:00.001-04:00

I just found this website and think i may have to plan all my fall wardrobe from it - at least in my head!!

http://www.joyofsocks.com/tights1.html

Morning Routines

2007-09-03T21:13:00.000-04:00

we're in the middle of a bathroom remodel, so we've been using what was previously the guest bathroom down the hall. This is not that big of a deal, until you try to fit all three of us in the bathroom for morning pre-work showers and shaves. Then its gets to be a little crowded. Especially when one of us sheds a lot. Can you guess who I happen to be talking about?

So Happy To See Everyone - I miss you so!

2007-09-03T20:32:00.001-04:00

Seattle on my mind..

2007-09-03T20:25:00.000-04:00

Guest Blogger

2007-09-03T20:12:00.000-04:00

I'm opening up my blog to my mummy so we'll see if she likes it - can't wait to see what you have to say mom! a Great way to stay connected to Seattle and the mom and the Jim and the fam and the dog next door and all the squirrels (Jacque, Maurice, baby Pascquel), greenie and harry, and those darn downy woodpeckers :)

Whats new you two?

monday night at home

2007-09-03T19:59:00.000-04:00

Milo and I got up nice and early this morning, before it was light out, before there were people going to work or catching school buses - zipped up my fleece (he already has one, nature custom made it for him) and we were off. Although it was labor day, i still had to work, which was fine. sometimes any change of pace, even if you're still doing what you normally do, makes things a little special. so Milo and i were up early, came back home and let sleeping Bryan lie while we had breakfast and did the dishes. A nice way to start the day.. work zoomed by - no one was in the office today and i was able to catch up on some work id been putting off. i drove home, made it in 20 mins (its amazing how light traffic is when no one else is on the road) and walked in to find dinner 10 mins from ready - Bryan had made his special salsa chicken pasta salad - our invention that we came up with so we could eat as much of his homemade salsa as possible without eating all the chips!

We had a nice weekend - as you can see from the pics, we got a new kitchen stove! i say kitchen because we also got a new wood burning stove for our house too, but it wont be installed for a few more days. I'm sure pictures will ensue :) We really needed a new stove - ours was old (it came with the house) and do to an accident two winters ago, i can barely lie in bed at night without wanting to get up 9 times to check to make sure the burners are out! so we're both sleeping much more peacefully now than we were, and though I'm sure we'll curse ourselves later, we're both secretly looking forward to winter to try out both of them... soon enough i think..

So enjoy pics from this past week - my first live fantasy football draft ( i know dear, very hypocritical of me - but it was so much fun!) and our new stove being all shiny...

here comes the weekend and the sunshine

2007-08-31T18:29:00.000-04:00

I went to a baby shower this afternoon and afterwards instead of returning to work i jumped in my car and raced home! it was gorgeous today - clear skies, breezy breeze -- i was home by 5.

What a difference a few minutes makes. I happily hooked milo up on his leash and we went for a late afternoon stroll, getting to see all sorts of people and faces we dont normally because of our usual walking hours.

Now Bryan's home and reading in the hammock with a cat on his lap and I'm about to join in. I just started The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy...see you in september!

vacation pictures

2007-08-29T07:32:00.001-04:00

Here's just a few pictures from our trip out west:

*Bryan and I in Roslyn in front of "chris in the morning's" radio station

*At Donovan's wedding, after much dancing

*And the Egyptian Room at the Bed and Breakfast we stayed at on the road from Denver to Rapid City.

the goings on around here

2007-08-28T15:55:00.000-04:00

This past week has been mainly composed of me getting my feet back under me from vacation - does anyone else sometimes do that slowly too?

Last weekend was the perfect combination of productivity and relaxation - we were able to enjoy the sunshine, mow the lawn, and sleep in. we also stripped all the old wall paper from our guest bedroom and are now contemplating colors. I have the weakness to love color, no matter if it matches or not, so things i paint sometimes tend to come out looking like a 5 year old lives there, and thats not really the result that i want for our house. So I'm weighing my love of color for my love of a nice looking house - i'll let you know how it turns out!

got a new cookbook this weekend, thanks to mummy, (americas test kitchen cookbook)and the beef stroganoff i debuted with came out ok - 3 stars i think. trying to cook more and more, instead of be a "fantasy cooker"

signed milo up for a shy doggy class this week which will be great - he gets a little anxious around people that he doesnt know so this will be a great refresher of the basics, will teach him some new things, and also teach me some new and old tricks! we'll be going tuesday nights starting in october - should be a treat..

work today was super slow, and already my head has turned toward my commute home, coming up here in 40 mins....

Kristen, I love thinking about your baby on the way so soon. These last few weeks must be such a heady mix of excitement and uncertainity, not to mention special time with Kyle and Grover :) I'm thinking of you daily...

2007-08-22T08:53:00.000-04:00

So many nice things are happening right now. they're little and maybe a bit silly, but lighting up my perspective nonetheless.

*Congratulations to Lisa - she welcomed her baby boy on the 13th! I can't wait to meet him properly after waiting all this time.

*I've just started reading Barbara Kingsolver's new book about her year living off food that she and her family grew, as well as local farmer's markets. although i dont agree with all of her politics, the book is lovely. It takes place on her familys farm in the Applacian Mountains, and she writes this time of year so well - late summer lushness.

*My Fantasy Football league is up and running for its second year! Comprised completely of special ladies across the united states, it makes football season that much more fun.

*the US Open is almost upon us and that means lots of tennis and lots of coverage. bryan and i decided that someday we'll have to try and go.

*I recieved a mystery gift in the mail the other day - a book about playing with kids, something like 1000 games to play with kids etc. I have no idea where or who its from, maybe its an accident? but its pretty neat anyway, and its now snuggled on the bookcase waiting for a good time to use it..

*I'm finally getting my bike fixed! it has been so long....

back.

2007-08-21T09:39:00.000-04:00

How can you cram so much into such a short amount of time? Bryan and I are back after a week and half vacation that took us home to seattle, into the yakima river, around part of greenlake, through denver into south dakota, into a hail storm, and then back to denver, arriving in indy at 11.30 and stopping at wal-mart at midnight on the way home to buy some new pillows.

we also stopped at 2 weddings (participating in one) and tried to eat teriyaki everyday we were there.

it was wonderful catching up with family and friends and meeting people for the first time, a vacation well spent.

ill post some pictures soon, as soon as i finish laundry. i think im still on pacific time and was up until 1 in the morning last night. silly jesse.

2007-08-07T18:40:00.000-04:00

helping me pack his bags for doggy daycare... for a week and a half....
wrestling with other doggies, playing all day long. it will be a treat!

it is so hot here! i cant wait for seattle!

Dog Post! :my buddy miloslovich slobberdog

2007-08-05T09:33:00.000-04:00

sleeps on couches but not beds.

faithful running companion, though after about 2 miles, its more like faithful running behind you companion. he and i are the world's biggest whiny babies when we run, so we suit each other well.

does not really like our cat fargus, nor does fargus really like him

does chest bumps with bryan and "throw-downs" with both paws

tries to intercept pingpong balls sneakily during rallies.

Live!

2007-08-05T08:34:00.001-04:00

DuDe! Last night we went to see Collective Soul, Live, and Counting Crows and wow - my socks were blown off by Live - i wish they would have played for 2 more hours. We went down early and had snacks at 14 West, a restaurant we discovered mainly by chance as i wanted to try it just because they have a little place to sit outside with great old fashioned strings of lightbulbs hanging here and there. but - their food is great too and we've decided we need to think of a special occasion to go down and have dinner sometime instead of just appetizers.

we headed down to the concert afterwards, got there to see Collective Soul, and went down on the ground for Live - and whoa - one of the best shows Ive seen. above and beyond my expectations and just totally rockin'. it ended way too soon. man it was great though, and seriously, how much fun it was to shake what your mama gave you to bands from our "youth"? just awesome. Bryan and i also had fun noting it was a real intergenerational concert - there were people there with their teenagers, people there with small kids, and then people our age - pretty funny.

In other unimportant news, I finally found a dress to wear to the rehearsal dinner and the other wedding we're going to in SD. I know its silly to worry about things like that, but i really was fretting a bit over it, and then this one popped up - a little more than i wanted to pay ($20) but less than i expected to pay (<$70). its this very cute halter dress with orange and white tropicalish pattern - its got summer all over it. Then i paired it up with some white flips with a little jewel on them and we're good to go! now i just need to clean the house, do laundry, pack etc and im ready for our trip! This will of course be punctuated by watching Andy Roddick play in the finals of the Legg Mason championships later this afternoon - he served over 150 yesterday in a tie break against this huuuuuge croatian guy that was also very awesome.

New favorite later summertime drink: blueberry vodka and lemonade. I am most assuredly Not a drink connisuer, nor am i usually a fan of vodka, but this lovely concoction was perfect last night when it was muggy and far too hot. If you find yourself sitting at an ourdoor cafe with thunderstorms approaching, this little refresher wont do you wrong, esp if the bartender is liberal with the lemonade!

Kristen - love the tv cover :)

Tapas With Amia in Indy

2007-08-02T18:58:00.001-04:00

passing time

2007-08-02T15:25:00.001-04:00

Work has slowed down a little and i thought this would be fun. enjoy.

Four Jobs I Have Had:Video Checker-Inner at Movie store - i got to wear a tuxedo shirt and cummerbund. i got made fun of dreadfully by friends.

Nanny - during this job, i wasn't very happy, but i often miss the girls and wish i could spend some more time with them.

Bath and Body Works - I smelled so good!

Children's Museum - Darth Vader sits right outside my door. Pretty Neat.

Four Films I Can Watch Over and Over:
Anne of Green Gables and Anne of Avonlea - I count them as one

Dangerous Beauty - one of those devastatingly devastating films

Dead Poets Society - spawned a life long love for the prep school genre

Last of the Mohicans - simply awesome. Reinforced my love for New England - i would love to visit where they filmed it! (ironically enough, its not in new england!)

Four Places I Have Lived:
Seattle

Washington D.C.

Huntingdon, Pennsylvania

Indianapolis

Four Favorite T.V. Shows:
Super Nanny

Wife Swap

Northern Exposure

Law and Order!

Four Websites I Visit Daily:

my bloggy friends

rachellucas.com

nytimes.com

slate.com

Four Places I would Love to Be:

On vacation someplace warm with lots of things that i CAN do but that i don't HAVE to do.

On vacation someplace cold with big blankets and hot chocolate

Traveling with Bryan

Home on our back porch, on the hammock.

Four Favorite Foods:

Homemade Macaroni and Cheese

NY Strip Steak

Tacos w chips and salsa

Oreo Ice Cream Sandwiches

2007-08-02T13:29:00.000-04:00

Lunch today was at a local pizza place north of work just a little bit. Even though i dont eat out every day, once in a while i like to leave the museum and get out in the fresh air and mainly, just have a change of pace from the office. Today was no exception and it so fresh and great to leave work for an hour by myself, where i had time to do whatever i wished - i windowshopped, lunched, and read the paper.

I forgot to mention that we found two baby birds last night that had fallen from our tree in the backyard. Bryan spotted them first, though we only thought it was the one at first. We left him under the tree for awhile, then went back out after dark to round them up. We made a little "nest" for them in a old litter box lined with towels and Bryan gathered them up (with no help from me - for some reason, i was scared to touch them, isnt that retarded?). once we had them inside, Bryan went back out for a good while, trying to get some worms for the hungry little guys. Of course, since he was looking for some, there were none to be found. We improvised instead, smashing and soaking some cat food in milk and then feeding it to them with my eyebrow tweezers. Then this morning we gave them a new nest, complete with dryer lint (to replicate soft down) and grass and set them up outside before leaving for work. We know their parents were around because while Bryan was doing this he was getting divebombed by them - no appreciation for his efforts! We hope those little guys make it, and that they learn to flap their wings and fly just like their mom and dad.

grumpasaurus

2007-08-02T11:54:00.000-04:00

"I also notice that I don't have the luxury of indulging in bad moods anymore (or I'm not allowed to hold onto them for long)."

I came across this quote today and realize that i do this! I hold onto and indulge bad moods!

Must work on not doing this.

Catch Up and Welcome to August

2007-08-02T09:48:00.000-04:00

Hello, hello. its been a while without me even meaning to be bad. last time i posted we were hard at work on summer projects, eating from the garden, generally being two summer-loving people.

We still are!

The long lapse was due in part to being busy, to having visitors, and to just being tired i guess.

last week Bryan's good friend Amia came into town for a visit, and as usual when you have guests, we did a bunch of fun things that we normally wouldn't pack into the work week. Tuesday night after i got home from work, we headed back downtown for feasting at McCormick's and Schmidts (spelling?) where they were having the Northwest Salmon Special - and for a table of people all from the NW area, it couldn't get better (though to confess i didn't actually have the salmon). Wednesday night we caught a tennis match at the RCA Tournament - got to see Andy Roddick play live! Awesome! Bryan and i have now decided that at some point we should try and see the US Open. it was so much fun. .. we stayed late and watched a doubles match as well, fighting off the chilly night and raindrops here and there. the best part was that the stadium is quite small here, so it felt like you were watching a tennis match played just for you!

The rest of the week was a blur of work and fun, highlighted with a trip to the bowling alley (i got a free key chain for bowling over 200!), finally walking into a soy field and tasting the freshest edamame ever (same with corn) and seeing Incubus after a rousing dinner of tapas. OH - and not to be forgotten! Bryan cooked us all a special northwest dinner on Friday night - salmon on the grill with asparagus and warm bread - tres bon after a busy week!

We've spent this week not doing much at all, and the house looks like it. I've been slacking on dishes and laundry and just cleaning in general - ill have to get myself in gear pretty soon here, so we can continue to go out in public! I'll spend the evening tonight putzing around the house, cleaning, washing, vacuuming - sometimes its actually fun when you can tell the difference you're making so clearly.

One of the things we did get to catch up on this week was Northern Exposure - so good to come back to that after a week hiatus.

We've got our vacation coming up next week - we'll leave on Wednesday and come back the following Saturday after spending a week in Seattle and a couple days in South Dakota - I'm looking forward very much to this spent with family and friends and being able to see the Seattle mountains every morning - hopefully we'll get a hike in there too.

In other news, i continue to scan the art channels here for job oppurtunities that are more in line with my education, and I've put several applications in this spring and summer. I guess right now I'm just going to continue here - i enjoy my co-workers and the benefits, etc of the position, however my eyes are peeled in a non-stressy way for other positions around town..

I just discovered something called the "renegade craft fair" which is happening in Chicago September 15-16 - it looks fabulous, i may have to wander on up there and see what there is to see. .

That's all for now, More to come soon I'd warrant.
xo
jesse

Lazy and great

2007-07-22T12:42:00.000-04:00

we sort of wandered through the weekend over here - going for runs, eating tomato sandwiches, working on projects around home.

The pictures above are shots of a chest we're redoing. I bought it at a yard sale in April and drug it out this weekend, where we commenced the sanding and peeling off of the layer of siding that had been placed over it. the plan is to get all the fake wood off, sand it, and then paint it a pretty color - it will probably then fulfill its destiny in the guest bedroom...

we also got a lot from our garden this weekend - tomatoes, peppers, peapods. perfect for feasting. We'll spend the rest of the afternoon today doing little things - mowing the lawn, cleaning the house, then capping the evening off with some barbeque.

hope you had a nice weekend too.

Good Night and Good Morning

2007-07-18T07:36:00.000-04:00

What I saw last night when i came to bed, and what i saw this morning when i got back from my walk.

Rainy Day in Indianapolis today - blustery and i love it.

Oh me

2007-07-17T15:59:00.000-04:00

I was struggling this afternoon, practically falling asleep and fighting off a headache so i splurged and bought myself some french fries. not something i like to do very often, but oh my they tasted good.

Early Afternoon

2007-07-17T12:02:00.000-04:00

These are incredible images - Georgia O'Keefe (what an amazing woman), edward weston, and a work after the photography of Weston - transformations of normal, everyday things into beautiful curves is something i can never get tired of seeing

Its noon on tuesday and it seems like today has been what Monday is usually classified as. There was no soft start from bed, it was up and out, cleaning up after the pup and getting caught in a thunder and lightening storm that suprised both milo and myself on our morning walk. We were able to get back home before we were completely soaked and have breakfast with Bryan before we both left for the day - a rare treat. Im working on my eggs over-easy skills, they usually come out too hard, more in the medium category, its a work in progress.

Some of my favorite websites are ones of artists - i see their work and wish i had a million dollars to just spend on works that shouted out to me. Now that the day has settled down a bit, I've spent some time looking for some artworks that would like nice in our bedroom, something we both like and thats affordable. I've also got a new Martha Stewart magazine to run through - v. much looking forward to that and trying out some of the recipes.

We ran 4 miles yesterday! V. good start to the week, and so far, I'm ahead in running points, 2:1. I'm already trying to decide what i want to cash them in for...

Quality Time

2007-07-16T21:44:00.000-04:00

Bonding with the dooogie. Doesn't he look like he's loving every minute of cuddle time?!

MONDAY!!!!

2007-07-16T12:48:00.000-04:00

So its Monday, and so far its been zipping along beautifully. work is keeping me busy, but I'm taking little moments here and there to catch up on the bloggies and news, and just to daydream a bit.

I stopped at Starbucks this morning, a habit I've been weening myself from lately, but i did make a wonderful summertime purchase there today - a travel mug on sale covered in blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, and little orange flowers - not sure why i love it so much, but it reminds me entirely of the wild berries that grow on vashon island, and of summertime in general. i dub it my favorite official travel mug, the apple of my eye on my morning drive. .

Ive been toying with the idea of getting some fresh produce delivered on a regular basis to our house - anyone have experience with that and opinions? I would be worried that the boy and I couldn't get through it all and it would go to waste. But i really like the idea and would love to get behind local farmers and fresh food delivered to our doorstep - something to think about I guess.

We had a great weekend - ended up not going to see Bob Dylan, and instead just staying home barbecuing hamburgers and eating green beans, and splitting up the household chores based on the outcomes of PingPong games. Guess who had to the dishes AND cook the champion breakfast? Ah well - I won the important one - lunch at Bentos Teriyaki when we're home (and i actually don't mind washing dishes, its a fun easy chore that makes me feel like I'm accomplishing something). We capped off the night with a few episodes of "Northern Exposure" and then i tucked myself into bed, cozy against the wall, happy and contented.

We started the week off right this morning with a run, first thing. Unfortunately for both Bryan and Milo I had Gwen Stefani in my head, a result of our alarm radio station this morning, and insisted on sharing it most of the way. i think the only thing Bryan hates more than New Wave Gwen Stefani music is me singing it at 7am. Such is life i guess! We'll probably go for a run when we get home tonight too, as we've invented a "scoring system" for our daily jogs. If both of us go in the morning and in the evening, we each get a point. if only one of us goes (say me in the morning, or bryan in the afternoon) that person gets 2 points - at the end of the week you get to cash in your points and win a prize if you're ahead. Yes, we compete in a lot of things - I have yet to win a week, but he wont get ahead of me so early in the week! i Will WIN!

Both of us are looking forward to this week, as there's nothing major happening in it at all - i love weeks like that...

Good Morning

2007-07-15T08:49:00.000-04:00

Good Morning on Sunday! Its sunny here, and cooler than it has been in the past few weeks, which is really nice. I guess we've traded with the Northwest... The week really got away from me, which to be perfectly honest, was just fine with me. Both of us had kind of crazy schedules this week - i had a change to a new work position, a stint down at membership tables, and a staff retreat all lined up, and bryan had a major work contract fulfillment to get through. both of us were really really happy when we had friday afternoon roll in. We got home, i straightened up a little and bryan took milo for a run, and then we went out to dinner at the little mexican place by our house, making it home in time for Man vs. Wild! very cool.

Saturday was spent sleeping in, reading, and working on house projects. I finally got the bedroom finished! Hurray! i really like how it turned out, im not sure if the photos really do the color justice, but it makes the room really warm and welcoming. we also moved around the furniture and i feel muuuuch more comfy and homey in this new arrangement. Today is laundry and cleaning up a bit - i have a bunch of clothes to take to Goodwill. we're also off to get a shelf for my side of the bed, a tree or fern to go in the corner, and a comfy chair and i think we're set! We might head down to a baseball game this afternoon - Indy is playing the Durham Bulls - how fun is that?

Kristen - i hope you guys are finding ways to stay cool, grover included. You look great - any sunday afternoon plans?

2007-07-10T10:42:00.001-04:00

Oh - and im convinced - I must read "ring of endless light" by madeleine L'Engle. A couple of the girls whose blogs i frequent are raving about it and i love madeleine already! consider it added to my summer reading program :)

2007-07-10T10:24:00.001-04:00

So my job description has been re-designed. Im now a part-time receptionist at work and i guess Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Friday afternoons will be spent out here at the front desk. not sure how this all sits, but it is what it is for now.

we cooked out last night - it was so good! I had stopped at the butcher on the way home ( i only do this once every 2 months or so) and bought us 2 new york steaks. when we got home, we grilled them, with just a little bit of sea salt for flavor - in a word - delicious! We also cut up some strawberries and made a great salad - all in a all a good night with belly's full.