Our camping weekend was fun. Too much food, as usual, and we even pared back this year. It was also fun to go see my nephew play soccer. The kids were really, really good!
I made rhubarb crisp last night, figuring I shouldn't let all the rhubarb go to waste AGAIN this year. I might make some rhubarb/strawberry jam, too. Anywhooo, I bought both ice cream and frozen yogurt last night to have with the crisp, as Chris thinks frozen yogurt is the devil. I did a blind taste test for him between Breyers vanilla ice cream and Kemps vanilla frozen yogurt. Ha! He chose the frozen yogurt!
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Thursday, May 21, 2009
The Sweet Taste of Freedom
I love not being in classes. I've been able to enjoy the awesome weather by doing yardwork, going for convertible rides, drinking at my favorite places and feeling generally relaxed. I've started my 3 Day training and prepped my mailings for 3 Day donations (won't be able to mail them until next week after camping), so I feel on top of things.
Speaking of freedom, I didn't latch the back door very well yesterday morning (I went out to admire my teak oiling job on the new bar) and at some point it blew open, unbeknownst to me. We came home last night, with Bartleby and Ali being their normal "happy to see us" selves. Chris then saw the open door. Loki wasn't in the house. I went on the deck and said "LOKI!" and he scampered right inside. So who knows what kind of kitty adventures they had. They aren't outdoor cats. I just hope they don't get fleas. I think it's funny that two of them chose to be inside and not out enjoying their freedom the entire time.
Speaking of freedom, I didn't latch the back door very well yesterday morning (I went out to admire my teak oiling job on the new bar) and at some point it blew open, unbeknownst to me. We came home last night, with Bartleby and Ali being their normal "happy to see us" selves. Chris then saw the open door. Loki wasn't in the house. I went on the deck and said "LOKI!" and he scampered right inside. So who knows what kind of kitty adventures they had. They aren't outdoor cats. I just hope they don't get fleas. I think it's funny that two of them chose to be inside and not out enjoying their freedom the entire time.
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Cheese Stew
A few randoms for today:
1) A male friend called for advice last night. He's not a player at all, but a rather odd fellow. He loves musicals, antiquing, showtunes, quirky movies and tv shows, and has an overall odd sense of humor. He's done the online dating thing, but recently has dated women met through others. He went on a date with our friend's gynocologist, but there was no love connection. She did, however, set him up with a coworker in her office. The coworker came over last week for a casual date at his house (I thought it was weird to have a first date at his house), and ended up having sex. Both said it was out of their character to do that on the first date. He texted her the day after to say he had a nice time. She had said when she left that night that she was out of town for a graduation all weekend, but would call when she got back. As of last night, she has not called, texted or emailed. Isn't that weird?!
2) Our first charity pancake breakfast of the spring season is this weekend. We've made a fun tradition of meeting friends for pancake breakfasts about four times per year from May-August.
3) Chris is having coworkers and such over for a brewing day on Saturday. That means we need to get the garage and house clean.
4) We hung blinds in our bathroom last night. Tonight we have the big front kitchen window to tackle. Shouldn't be hard, though. They are 2" composite blinds that look like wood. We went with composite because a) they were cheaper, but still looked very nice in natural maple and b) in the bathroom the moisture content is high and real wood wasn't recommended (also recommended for the kitchen, but our kitchen has really good ventilation, so not a moisture issue). They look very nice and I'm happy I can be nekkid while people are in my backyard. The kitchen one we bedgrudgingly did because the view of sunsets is great, but in the summer the sunsets can be blinding at dinnertime and blazing on the tv screen. This fall I think we'll order more for other windows.
5) Classes are finished for the semester, but work is very hectic at least until or latest grant proposal goes in on the 22nd. Classes start again the first week of June. I'll be taking one day a week as vacation this summer to work on homework.
1) A male friend called for advice last night. He's not a player at all, but a rather odd fellow. He loves musicals, antiquing, showtunes, quirky movies and tv shows, and has an overall odd sense of humor. He's done the online dating thing, but recently has dated women met through others. He went on a date with our friend's gynocologist, but there was no love connection. She did, however, set him up with a coworker in her office. The coworker came over last week for a casual date at his house (I thought it was weird to have a first date at his house), and ended up having sex. Both said it was out of their character to do that on the first date. He texted her the day after to say he had a nice time. She had said when she left that night that she was out of town for a graduation all weekend, but would call when she got back. As of last night, she has not called, texted or emailed. Isn't that weird?!
2) Our first charity pancake breakfast of the spring season is this weekend. We've made a fun tradition of meeting friends for pancake breakfasts about four times per year from May-August.
3) Chris is having coworkers and such over for a brewing day on Saturday. That means we need to get the garage and house clean.
4) We hung blinds in our bathroom last night. Tonight we have the big front kitchen window to tackle. Shouldn't be hard, though. They are 2" composite blinds that look like wood. We went with composite because a) they were cheaper, but still looked very nice in natural maple and b) in the bathroom the moisture content is high and real wood wasn't recommended (also recommended for the kitchen, but our kitchen has really good ventilation, so not a moisture issue). They look very nice and I'm happy I can be nekkid while people are in my backyard. The kitchen one we bedgrudgingly did because the view of sunsets is great, but in the summer the sunsets can be blinding at dinnertime and blazing on the tv screen. This fall I think we'll order more for other windows.
5) Classes are finished for the semester, but work is very hectic at least until or latest grant proposal goes in on the 22nd. Classes start again the first week of June. I'll be taking one day a week as vacation this summer to work on homework.
Monday, May 11, 2009
Furloughs
Well this is a peachy thing when you have a two State employee household.
All Wisconsin state employees will be mandated to take 16 days furlough (vacation without pay) over the next two years. You cannot take more than one day per week, because if you took more, you could collect unemployment (I'm still reading more about this, as it wasn't how I thought it worked, but according to the Governor's office, however they are writing the rules, it will exempt us from being eligible for unemployment).
Normally, this would only impact 25% of my job, as the other 75% of my job is on grant money (thus would only need to take 4 days furlough over two years-big whoop). However, I was paid 100% on grants last year and thus the "hard money" part of my job is picking up 75% of my salary for at least the next six months because they owe me for last year. Hence, I'll have to take 12 days furlough. That? Is bad timing.
No vacations for us this year, and it's looking like our plans for a 10 year anniversary trip to Germany might be on hold. However, I'm happy we aren't (yet, anyway) completely laid off and can still pay our bills with this mandatory time off.
All Wisconsin state employees will be mandated to take 16 days furlough (vacation without pay) over the next two years. You cannot take more than one day per week, because if you took more, you could collect unemployment (I'm still reading more about this, as it wasn't how I thought it worked, but according to the Governor's office, however they are writing the rules, it will exempt us from being eligible for unemployment).
Normally, this would only impact 25% of my job, as the other 75% of my job is on grant money (thus would only need to take 4 days furlough over two years-big whoop). However, I was paid 100% on grants last year and thus the "hard money" part of my job is picking up 75% of my salary for at least the next six months because they owe me for last year. Hence, I'll have to take 12 days furlough. That? Is bad timing.
No vacations for us this year, and it's looking like our plans for a 10 year anniversary trip to Germany might be on hold. However, I'm happy we aren't (yet, anyway) completely laid off and can still pay our bills with this mandatory time off.
Wednesday, May 06, 2009
My big screen debut
If by big screen, we mean computer screen, I'll be shooting my first big film tomorrow. :-)
We are having two videos produced for state care managers in our Department of Health Services. I will be playing the role of "interviewer". Tonight I will be rehearsing before and after LOST. I've recorded the other persons part into a tape recorder so I don't have to make Chris read with me. I also must pick out a shirt to wear. If I had more time, I'd have bought a new shirt for this one. I need long sleeved, solid color. All my new clothes are short sleeved, and my long sleeved ones are all a little faded. Maybe I can get a new one for the shoot on the 15th.
Sometime this year, these will be up on the web. If I'm not too embarassed, I might give you the link. :-)
We are having two videos produced for state care managers in our Department of Health Services. I will be playing the role of "interviewer". Tonight I will be rehearsing before and after LOST. I've recorded the other persons part into a tape recorder so I don't have to make Chris read with me. I also must pick out a shirt to wear. If I had more time, I'd have bought a new shirt for this one. I need long sleeved, solid color. All my new clothes are short sleeved, and my long sleeved ones are all a little faded. Maybe I can get a new one for the shoot on the 15th.
Sometime this year, these will be up on the web. If I'm not too embarassed, I might give you the link. :-)
Monday, May 04, 2009
Yard Thrashers & Facebook Rules
First, I need to say something nice about Tummy:
I'm happy she joined blogland because she updates a lot and posts pics for us all to partake in her life. I'm glad to have her in my blog family. And she has awesome fun hair. Now, on with the show:
Yard Thrashers
Chris and I have different ways of working. I like to make a list and spread my tasks out. He likes to wait until he has motivation then dive in to whatever interests him at the time. This weekend, we compromised. He was feeling like he'd been a bum lately and wanted to get stuff done around the house. I wanted to be outside because it was beautiful (and had a few projects on my list). Turns out his project list was about five times the size of mine!
1. Friday afternoon I arrived home from Birmingham and decided to finish the flowerbed weeding I'd started last week. I also laid out the roll of contractor edging to finish a flowerbed on Saturday (it needed to be rolled out so it was more pliable). Chris got home and also wanted to move a few retaining wall blocks and giant stump sized logs from the woods. I drew the line after that as my back was getting sore.
2. Saturday I cleaned house then hit the yard. We filled up an entire retaining wall with fill by hand (well, shovels and our lawnmower's yard cart), cut the last few retaining wall blocks, bought topsoil and laid it out on top of weed barrier, planted two bushes, and lined the bush area with cobblestones. Chris stained eight pieces of lattice (much to Swami's displeasure) for under our deck.
3. Sunday I did homework, lined my flowerbed with the contractor edging, mulched a few flowerbeds, moved the snowblower to the yard barn, and then we tackled the lattice project and finished it.
Facebook Rules
Does anyone with a spouse have "Facebook Rules?" These can be either ones you've clearly discussed or ones presumed in your head.
Mine? If you've had sex with someone, I would prefer they not be your Facebook friend. If the person is seriously crazy and is prone to bringing crazy wherever they go, they shouldn't be your Facebook friend.
There are other mucky situations (someone he/she dated, but didn't have sex with, for instance) that I'm still not sure where I stand.
I'm happy she joined blogland because she updates a lot and posts pics for us all to partake in her life. I'm glad to have her in my blog family. And she has awesome fun hair. Now, on with the show:
Yard Thrashers
Chris and I have different ways of working. I like to make a list and spread my tasks out. He likes to wait until he has motivation then dive in to whatever interests him at the time. This weekend, we compromised. He was feeling like he'd been a bum lately and wanted to get stuff done around the house. I wanted to be outside because it was beautiful (and had a few projects on my list). Turns out his project list was about five times the size of mine!
1. Friday afternoon I arrived home from Birmingham and decided to finish the flowerbed weeding I'd started last week. I also laid out the roll of contractor edging to finish a flowerbed on Saturday (it needed to be rolled out so it was more pliable). Chris got home and also wanted to move a few retaining wall blocks and giant stump sized logs from the woods. I drew the line after that as my back was getting sore.
2. Saturday I cleaned house then hit the yard. We filled up an entire retaining wall with fill by hand (well, shovels and our lawnmower's yard cart), cut the last few retaining wall blocks, bought topsoil and laid it out on top of weed barrier, planted two bushes, and lined the bush area with cobblestones. Chris stained eight pieces of lattice (much to Swami's displeasure) for under our deck.
3. Sunday I did homework, lined my flowerbed with the contractor edging, mulched a few flowerbeds, moved the snowblower to the yard barn, and then we tackled the lattice project and finished it.
Facebook Rules
Does anyone with a spouse have "Facebook Rules?" These can be either ones you've clearly discussed or ones presumed in your head.
Mine? If you've had sex with someone, I would prefer they not be your Facebook friend. If the person is seriously crazy and is prone to bringing crazy wherever they go, they shouldn't be your Facebook friend.
There are other mucky situations (someone he/she dated, but didn't have sex with, for instance) that I'm still not sure where I stand.
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