here comes the weekend and the sunshine

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

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

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...

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.

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.

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

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.