Wednesday, July 30, 2008

WW: It's on steamy hot days like this...

.
that I truly appreciate the cool crispness of an October afternoon.


For more Wordless Wednesday, go here.

Tuesday, July 29, 2008

We're POPULAR

Looky here: Youth In Revolt

Also, Whip It! (They're filming all over Washtenaw County.)

Saturday, July 26, 2008

Friday night reading: Suzanne Brockmann. (This is where you find out I'm obsessed.)

S went to his cottage on the lake last night so I had a free Friday evening to do whatever the heck I wanted.

So I read.

And drank wine.

I finished Into the Fire by Suzanne Brockmann. (And can I just say here that I LOVE her? I will happily plop down my moolah months in advance to buy books through her virtual signings. Because, hullo?, SIGNED COPIES.) And I'm a total book snob when it comes to her books. For years I had a no-lend policy with her books. What if someone didn't return them? What if they got damaged? I would be verrah verrah bitter towards the borrower and would carry a grudge for a long time, I'm sure. So it was better all around if I kept them at home. On my shelf. Where they belong.

Broke my no-lend rule last evening when my best friend of 20+ years stopped by. I lent her my precious copy of Taylor's Temptation and Flashpoint and made sure she knew that our next 20+ years of friendship are contingent upon the safe return of my books.

Also did something I haven't done in FOREVER last night. I pulled an all-night Reading Binge. After finishing Into the Fire about 11:30, I immediately picked up and plowed through (again) another of Brockmann's books -- All Through The Night.

Why, you ask?

Because I COULD.

Wednesday, July 23, 2008

Taking stock*

  • I am 35. 36 in September.
  • Only 4 classes left before I get my BS.
  • Graduation April, 2009 contingent upon getting those final 4 classes done over the next two semesters.
  • Money is tight right now.
  • Student loans, mortgage, bills.
  • I am overwhelmed.
  • And my house is full of termites.
  • I work for a non-profit and make very little.
  • I am 35.
  • I regret that I don't make more so I don't have to stress so much.
  • I pray the degree will mean a better paying job.
  • One I love.
  • Because this one? Not loving so much.
  • But they're flexible about time so I can take classes during the day if I have to.
  • But they don't pay well.
  • I live alone.
  • And have two dogs.
  • One is diabetic and requires insulin and a special diet.
  • Maintaining her health is very expensive.
  • But I'm dating a fantastic man.
  • One who won't get married.
  • And I'm fine with that.
  • Because been there, done that, and don't want to do it again.
  • I've met a ton of wonderful folks through him.
  • I want to live in Europe for awhile.
  • Job exchange maybe.
  • I want to learn a craft and learn it well.
  • Fabric crafts have caught my fancy.
  • Sewing.
  • Knitting.
  • I need to lose some weight.
  • Still.
  • I am 35.
  • I would get a lot of satisfaction from making my own clothes.
  • I made a dress last summer.
  • And I get satisfaction from wearing it, knowing I made it.
  • I have two tattoos.
  • My indifference towards them is shifting towards regret.
  • My four tomato plants are producing.
  • I discovered a raspberry bush on my fence-row.
  • The berries are red and sweet.
  • My pear tree is loaded with tiny pears.
  • I want to can some this year.
  • Letting them go to waste again is unforgivable.
  • But I'm dating a fantastic man.
  • And I don't know what I'm going to do about the termites.
*post style inspired by Karla's Tunisian Rosé post.

Friday, July 18, 2008

Recap: July 12-18, 2008

.

Saturday, July 12: S, S's mom, and I got up at the crack of dawn to leave for Port Huron. But first, we had to pick up our 3rd CSA crop. (No picture this time.) After CSA at 6 a.m., we tootled on over to Port Huron to drop S off for The Race. Had breakfast at the Cavis Grill. S's boat left the dock about 10 for a 12:?? start time. His mom and I followed them up the coast until they crossed under the Blue Water Bridge. We then headed back to Ypsi and stopped at a couple places to shop. I got home and made myself a tote bag in the boat's colors.


Sunday, July 13: Had coffee with Mom and Dad. Took S's dog to his house and switched cars. Yes, people, I am a bit touched -- I drove a 1985 Volkswagen GTI the 279 miles from Ann Arbor to Mackinaw City. Was on the 5:15 ferry to Mackinac Island. Putzed around the island for awhile and eventually settled into the hotel room for a good night's sleep. Never DREAMED this would be one of the fastest Port Huron to Mackinac races ever. S's boat got in around 10 on SUNDAY NIGHT. Usually it's a good year if they finish on Monday night. Took about 36 hours this year. So at 11 p.m., got the call, "we're in and we need to find a room." (I stay in the boat owner's unused hotel room on Sunday night.) Had to get dressed, schlep our bags to the dock, get S, schlep our bags to the new hotel, then meet everyone at the Pink Pony for a drink because, yee haw, we're on the Island on Sunday night. Got to bed around 2:30.


Monday, July 14: Got up, had breakfast with the crew, dried sails (which was kinda fun), switched hotels (again), walked around for a couple of hours, had dinner with the crew, listened to a band called Mega 80s (OMG people, they rocked), danced my ass off, and didn't get in until after 2, again.


Tuesday, July 15: took our time getting out-n-about, checked out of our B&B about 11 and dropped our bags in the boat owner's room. Went to the award ceremony/drink fest and chatted with folks I've not seen yet this year. After the party, helped shuffle boats around. Left the island on the 6:00 ferry. By the time we got the car, put brake fluid in it, and hit the road it was after 7. Didn't get home until midnight. Immediately called in to work and took Wednesday morning off as "vacation recovery time".



Wednesday, July 16: had turned my alarm off, but that didn't stop a co-worker from CALLING MY ASS AT 7:45 TO ASK ME A QUESTION THEY KNEW THE ANSWER TO. Needless to say, my recovery time was screwed up at that point and I didn't really fall back asleep. My folks brought my dog home and we had some coffee. Went into work about noon. Went home and CRASHED on the couch for a couple hours. Had trouble falling asleep that night. My own fault, I know.

Thursday, July 17: Worked a full day. Went to Art Fair for a couple of hours (made me realize how much I hate Art Fair), stayed at S's house in Ann Arbor. Watched The Straight Story as S had never seen it. In bed about 1.

Friday, July 18: There was talk about me trying to get to go to Lake Michigan for the weekend with S for a "restful" mini-break but due to lack of dog-sitters it didn't work out. I probably could've found replacement sitters had S bothered to find out a month ago (when his trip was planned) that it was not a guys-only weekend. But I'm really not as bitter as I sound. I'm looking forward to having the weekend to sleep in. I'm still fricking exhausted. And it's HOT here. And HUMID. And my house is a disaster because I've not been home a weekend yet this month. And I have PMS.

And if anyone calls me before 10 a.m. tomorrow, HEADS WILL ROLL.

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

WW: A girl and her dog


For more Wordless Wednesday, go here.

Saturday, July 12, 2008

Last weekend, this weekend

This is what we did last weekend:


And this is where I'm going tomorrow:

Wednesday, July 9, 2008

Wordless Wednesday



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Edit: Not quite wordless after all. I had to share the following:

Saggin'

(Be sure to scroll down to the diagram. It cracks me up!)