Could it BE any more beautiful?

Butterkase cubes today. Grab a toothpick.

What a GREAT weekend! The weather was gorgeous. In the high 70s-mid 80s all weekend and lots of sun.

We watched my niece all weekend. She's such a tween (12). She just started shaving her legs this year and got contacts. *giggle* So cute.

I, with nieces help, landscaped the patio. Poor Chris has been sick, so he wasn't able to enjoy much of the sun on Saturday. Two of my solar lights don't work, so I have to return one of the packs. Too bad we burned the boxes. Ooops. I also put in tikis and some grasses and flowers. I just need more flowers and bark now. Well, and to finish off the deck that will connect to the patio.

My dad came over and we enjoyed a campfire Saturday night. I need marshmallow roasting sticks (metal ones) so I can quit scouring the woods for branches.

Sunday I laid in the sun for a bit (yes, I had sunscreen on!) and took a long walk. I did a little homework on the patio, too, because it was just too nice to be inside.

Did you have nice weather this weekend?

My bath & the curve

Beer and jalepeno cheddar spread with crackers for this lovely Friday!

Heh, the math exam average? 51
We don't have our grades back yet (we get those next week), but the curve was broken down today.

So the other night I used the Sex Bomb LUSH bath bomb. I was grossed out because there were some undissolved gel floaty gobs left in the tub. Since it was a Sex Bomb thing, I couldn't help but think it looked like gobs of youknowwhat in my bath. And you thought bravie's blog was disturbing today.

Enough of my whining

Thanks to all the support, advice and banter in my last thread. There's nothing I can change now about the exam, so I'll soldier on with a good attitude.

Smoked cheddar and apples this afternoon.

I have an important concern. Why can't I find fresh basil anywhere around here over the last few weeks? All the grocery stores are out. This is very strange. I want to make some yummy Thai food tonight, but I need basil! Myabe I should look for a plant. I usually plant one in the summer, anyway. I can nurse it inside for a month.

*sob* I hate Math!

Queso dip and tortilla chips to cure my blues.

I just took a math exam (the last regular one of the semester). OMFG, what the hell?! As one kid said when we finished, "Am I in the right room?" I am going to see if there are any options, as I KNOW I (at best) only pulled a D on this.

On a better note, I have some peep meeting in progress for next week. I think I'll be joining Bravie and Boo for dinner on Thursday. I have to work all day on Friday, so I'll miss out on some other peep meet opportunities. :-(

Misc.

Chevre with garlic and chives on crackers this morning.

The Baby Shower
I forgot to tell you about the baby shower this weekend. We all know how I love showers! We played a thirty minute long candy bar game. Ok, grandma got the question about sex (answer was Skor), so that was good for a laugh! Then it was a nursery rhyme game (30 questions...I quit halfway through). Then it was "taste the babyfood." I've never tasted babyfood and had no desire to start. I looked at it as a foodie challenge and stepped up to the plate. I got 6/10. I'll consider that good since I've never had the stuff before.

Salads!
I'm very into the plan of making more salads for dinner.

Next week
Jeepers, I just got back from a trip. Time to fly out to Oakland again next week (Wed-Sun). Hopefully I'll get to play with Boo and Bravie. My plan is to visit a LUSH store this time.

Project Days
Time to do a little yard work. The patio needs to be de-ant-infested and sealed, grass around the area needs to be tilled up and made into flower beds, mulch added to all landscaping, retaining walls finished and firepit reassembled. The fire pit is too tall. It doesn't produce enough warmth. The fire stays too well contained. Thus, we are taking a layer of stone off.

Smores!
I think we shall have smores this weekend. We are watching my niece and will have a campfire. Wish I'd have bought those coconut marshmallows a few weeks ago.

Argh!

So busy! Baby swiss and mimosas this morning.

I feel like I missed out on a great weekend to walk and do yardwork. I spent all day Saturday flying back. Sunday I had a baby shower that took up half the day. I have an exam on Wednesday, so no outside time for me til after that. *pout* My tulips are blooming, though. That pleases me.

I brought back some Peet's mocha sanini coffee beans and sourdough bread. Come have breakfast with me.

California Dreamin'

California brie and pears, ladies and gents.

I want to live on the west coast. I love the people, I love the landscape, I love the culture.

I went for a drive (in my fun rental car described in post chatter below) when I got in. Had some good Thai food in the business district. I parked and meandered til I found something that looked good. I then drove the Fruitvale area. Interesting international area. I'd like to eat some mexican there. Taco trucks everywhere! I stopped at an ethnic food mart to pick up some snacks for our room. The strawberries are effing outstanding.

I went on a power walk along the marina that runs by our hotel. It was chilly (windy) yet relaxing. The native plants in the park (there are so many city parks!) were gorgeous.

Tonight we asked our shuttle driver for a food recommendation in Jack London Square. He recommended Yoshi's. We had a FABULOUS sushi dinner.

So I'm full, my boss will be arriving soon and I should get some sleep. Til tomorrow...

TGIT?

...or Thank God Tuesday is Over is more appropriate.

Have some gouda cubes and breathe a sigh of relief with me.

These last few days have been killer. So much to do, so little time to do it! I have some piles cleared off my desk. I think there are only ten instead of fifteen now. I've also been a little crabby today. I engaged in some debates on OT that I probably should've just stayed out of because I'm feeling lackluster about arguing points right now.

I leave for CA tomorrow. 6:00 a.m. flight (I need to leave the house by 4:30). Ugh. My plan was to get to CA early and hit the Livermore valley for wine. However, our wine cabinet is stocked and it would just be throwing away money right now. So I'll likely get to the hotel, check in early and take a nice long walk.

I'll check in over the week, I'm sure, so behave.

I need a drink

Chevre and baguettes with mimosas!

It's been a long, busy morning already. Class, working on a presentation and creating a reading list have all be accomplished in a few hours. Whew!

I had a nice weekend, despite a rocky start.

Friday we had pizza after work at a new joint. Service was painfully slow, but it was their opening weekend. I came home and opened my LUSH box. Decided to try the Avobath.

Saturday started out with the laundry room flooding. Chris was soaking beer bottles in the utility sink to get labels off. I forgot about it, and started the washing machine...that drains into the same sink. Doh! I spent the morning cleaning the laundry room (needed to be done anyway) and the spare bathroom from floor to ceiling. Chris then left for man-day (beer brewing). I then went for a six mile walk in LOVELY weather. I vacuumed, cleaned the kitchen and installed some new candle sconces (I didn't even make any mistakes in my drilling). Then I took a long bath with my new Ne Worry Pas bath bomb. Then I watched part of Sideways. Man, that's a deep, depressing movie. I finished the evening with some grilled venison and asparagus and half a bottle of zinfandel.

Sunday was boring. It was nice out, so I did some yard work. Planted my Spring Hill Nursery purchases, moved the compost bin and helped Chris put down fertilizer. We also put down lime to hopefully help our grub/mole problem. Between the lime and moving the compost bin, I hope it helps.

Chris watched the new show Drive. Didn't do much for me, the few times I glanced at it. I watched TAR and the Food Network Awards instead (while doing homework).

Hope you had a lovely weekend. Sorry to the east coasters for all that nasty rain.

Back to work.

Steve Jobs presentation to shareholders

Bacon & blue cheese burgers for this sunny Friday!

Here's an excellent laugh.

http://www.mofunny.com/Movies/AppleIraq.wmv

Cats!

Cojack and sausage with crackers today. I'm going traditional Wisconsin on you.

Just thought I'd show some cat pics today.


Ali:

Bartleby:

Loki:

Product talk

Marinated veggies with feta today.

I have some products on my mind today.

1. Toasted coconut marshmallows.
I did not buy any yesterday, even though they were half off. They are the BEST campfire marshmallows. If were weren't expecting 7-10 inches of snow today, I might have given in. I'm just not in campfire mode yet.

ETA pic of the snow so far today. We came home early.

2. Spring Hill Nursery
I received a shipment of perennials from them yesterday. They have the best looking plants and best packaging of any nursery company I've used. I have to thank OT & Blogland for the suggestion, as I know I asked last year about catalog nurseries and received them as a suggestion.

3. Brown sugar and fig lotion from B&BW
I can't really decide how I feel about the scent. I bought it because it was one of a few major sale scents after Christmas and am using it for my work lotion. It's definitely a wintery smell.

4.Coconut Cream coffee creamer
It's not flavorful enough. I love the smell. And want some coconut cake.

5. Downy Wrinkle Release
I almost bought some yesterday (I spent $40 on paper products and cleaning products at Target yesterday...why do they all run out at the same time???), but am skeptical. Does it work?

I hope my Lush products get here today. It would be a good night for a bath.

Mean people suck

Have some chevre and french bread.

I don't like mean, arrogant people. Luckily, I don't have many of those people in my life. Wouldn't it be nice if we could round all of them up and send them to the South Pole?

Think of five people you'd like to send there.

A great weekend over

Guyere toasts with a tiny dash of nutmeg and parsley.

What an enjoyable weekend it was. Saturday afternoon we had Easter/kid's birthday party at my sister's house. It was a nice time. I got to eat deviled eggs, so it was also a tasty time.

Then it was off to my BIL's place for some family bonding. It was fine. I hate that he rarely plans food unless it's a party, so you have to ask for food if you are hungry (we arrived at 5 and it was 8, so our tummies were growling...the closest restaurants are a bit of a drive). The usual answer is "there's chips and salsa in the cabinet." Long story short, I got a grilled cheese this time and was happy. I love grilled cheese.

Sunday, since we aren't religious peeps, Chris went fishing with a buddy and I did projects around the house. Got some filing done, the regular household cleaning and painted the interior of the door in our four season room...finally. Now I want a couch in there. I want one with a chaise lounge on one end.

I took a long bath yesterday afternoon. Ahhhhhhhhhh. I want my Lush stuff now! I should be here this week sometime.

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend. And if anyone has the peanut butter M&Ms in mini egg form, I would take some please. *holds out hand*

Well that was a bad idea

Quiche with chevre for this Saturday morning post.

1. My relaxation at Starbuck's was carpy. They had some salsa music blaring. I felt like I was at Chi Chis. Instead, I went shopping.

2. The afternoon of cocktails was nice. Hit some local joints. Then, Pizzaria Unos, which has a great new happy hour.

3. The wine tasting was fun. I was quite chatty by that point.

4. I thought we'd just go home from there and I'd fall asleep in front of the tv. Instead we went to a new Mexican restaurant. I wasn't even hungry, but we ate anyway. The menu looked so good. By that time, I was a bit sloshed. I didn't much of the excellent dinner. Oh, and I was obviously drunk because I tried to speak spanish to the waiter. *snort*

5. Slept all the way home. Walked in the door and didn't quite make it to the toilet on time. *hurl* I so cleaned it up and took a shower. Chris had to clean up some of the yucky stuff, too. Extra points for him.

DISCLAIMER: I am not responsible for any of the phone calls made yesterday.

A letter to my Twenties

Dear Twenties,

I thought I'd write you a letter on our last day together.

Another decade has passed, another set of lessons learned, another set of good times, another set of bad. It's our last day together. I'm ok with that. I'm ready to let you go and hold on to the memories.

I married, I finished college. Two major landmarks in life. I guess babies and retirement are the other two big ones. Not sure if I'll ever hit the baby landmark and the retirement one is so far away. Gosh, if no babies, what else will I do in my thirties that will be a landmark? Guess I should get busy thinking of something. I hope it's not cancer, a divorce, a death or something else bad.

I suppose my Twenties had a highlight reel beyond those major events. I have been lucky to have some great job experiences. Maybe not glamourous, but they have all taught me something valuable. For example, I know what tapes work best for which applications. I also know how vendor coupons get redeemed and got to work in a popular FLLW designed building. I started working for the drain that is the State. However, I found an excellent job making a difference. It's something I always wanted to do...make a difference. I just wasn't sure I'd be able to find a job that paid enough to support my other dreams.

Speaking of those dreams, it's pretty cool that we build a house. And we have a little spot of serenity there.

What am I sad about from my Twenties? Chris and I had a few rough spots. I share some blame for that. I'll always feel bad about that. My relationship with my middle sister is getting harder to deal with each week. My relationship with my MIL has deteriorated a bit. I'm not torturing myself over any of it, though.

One of my favorite things about my Twenties? Meeting a fabulous group of people online. I seriously mean that. It has enhanced my life beyond words. The bonding, the outlet for my thoughts, the broad perspectives and caring people have meant the world to me.

And finally, Twenties, I just wanted to say thanks for all you did over the last ten years. You've prepared me to enter my Thirties in a happy place.

Love,

Me

St. Patrick's Day, 2007

-This Thursday bonus post brought to you by the spongemonkeys

Txmomma is bossy.

Brie and lobster toasts this morning. Mmmmmm.

1. We watched the first two episodes of Entourage last night. I'm giving it time to grow on me. I think the first few eps are really setting the scene.

2. Lost was a bit of a snoozer last night. I'm excited to see Sayid grill Juliette next week. I'm not a big Juliette fan.

3. We bought Epoxy floor coating kits for our garage. Finishing off the drywall in there and getting the floor sealed is our May project. This? Will not be fun. At least we are hiring someone to finish off the drywall.

4. I have a bunch of free lunch coupons to use. Too bad I don't have a car during the day.

5. One more month of class. I can do this, right?


ETA: Better, momma? :-)

Spongemonkeys replaced by coyote

Brie with a chardonnay and blueberries, accompanied by baguette slices for you today.

Coyote at Quizno's...http://www.channel3000.com/news/11517269/detail.html

I'm going to start watching Entourage season 1 tonight. We don't get HBO, so I've never watched it. However, I love Jeremy Piven.

I would like to cook a gourmet meal this weekend. I've been out of the cooking mode for awhile, just tossing easy stuff together. Since we are not attending a family event on Easter Sunday, maybe I will make one then.

I've been feeling quite upbeat lately, although work is dragging me down a bit. My boss is gone and we have three major projects in full swing, plus all that regular everyday stuff. I feel like I'm getting pulled in a billion directions. I just keep taking it day by day.

ETA: I forgot to say something last week about the Sophie/banana thing in MTW's blog. After consideration, I DON'T feel sorry for the picking on Sophie at all. Thank you all for setting me straight on who I should feel sorry for. I feel worst for Nookie. She spend the money, time and effort into getting the banana tour up and running and spent time trying to pry it out of Sophie. Long live Nookie!

Spring Break Week

Sharp white cheddar and crackers with grapes this morning.

It's a chilly, rainy spring break week here. Boo hiss! I don't have class, which is nice, but I'm working most of the week. Yesterday I worked from home a little. The boys had to visit the vet. Taking two at a time is not fun. My hearts go out to mothers of small children trying to get in and out of non-automatic doors with children in tow. The boys were good, though.

I took a long walk in the afternoon. The sun was out for awhile, so I stopped and gazed at the creek that runs behind our house and along the road. It was quite serene.

I'm starting to read The Poisonwood Bible today. Ever read it? Thoughts?

Now, I must go book my Friday spa (ok, it's a beauty school) appointment!