So, so MUCH.

How to approach.....  Hmm...


*Taiko - Has been in kind of a slow season.  Still playing, and still having a great time. The group has a different feeling from the past few years.  I miss the influence of a few choice personalities, but on the whole, I think we are improving.  I do kind of wish we were auditioning soon.  I feel like we need....something.  Looking forward to Celebrate the World, but I'm not sure if the set is going to be what I would like.....


*House.  Well, first realtor turned out to be ineffectual and shady.  She has officially been fired, but she got money from us when we signed, so that isn't cool.  I found some other realtors, and I will let you know how that works out.  So far, I am depressed to hear that I need to pain the house AGAIN.  We are going to price professionals.  Someone gave Josh a St. Joseph to bury in the yard.  Yes, folks, it's that bad.  Still, now that we are on the right foot....I have hopes again.


*Josh:  ...how to begin....?  Josh decided that he was done with his company when they restructured his path of advancement away from him.  He began looking for work elsewhere, and realized what I've been saying for a year (no one believes me) about him being underpaid was quite true.  He had already turned down 2 offers that were too long of a commute when his work found out.  They asked him to stay and offered him the raise they owed him from spring.  Well, now that he knows what the going rate is, he scoffed at the number they offered even though it is CONSIDERABLY more than they had been paying him.  Now, there is some visiting advisor guy who is trying to keep the CEO from ruining the company, and he realized how important Josh was, even if the CEO still hasn't.  He gave Josh the overdue raise while he is considering.  Josh was still looking until this week.  This week, his supervisor, and awesome lady who has appreciated Josh the whole time, and fought for the raise last spring, but lost, asked if he would stay for a single project that she wants him for, if she could match the offers he is getting out there in the market.  He said probably, and now we are waiting to see if she can get him the money.


*Grant - Best teacher in the whole school, lucky guy.  He's really been having a good year, on the whole.  He still runs 5K's.  He actually got first place male in his age group on the last one.  He still reads a lot, too, and loves science and books and pretty much all geeky things. 


*Abbie:  Also having a good year, I think.  She still won't take care of her hair, and usually looks marginally homeless.  She is still taking violin and loves music.  It's hard to tell if she actually likes VIOLIN music, but oh, well.  She is just getting over pink eye [insert SouthPark zombie joke here] and I'm glad we caught it early, because my mom is coming tomorrow for Abbie's music program. 


*Work = awesome.  I still love my work, and my co-workers.  Our office is undergoing construction, though, because of our awesomeness.  Just as I was leaving today, I saw giant rolls of carpet being unloaded.  YAY!  Can't wait until it's all done and we can start putting things away.  It's been messy for too long.


The holidays are upon us, and I feel so unprepared.  I've hardly had a second to shop.  Or read.  I've hardly read any books lately.  I did finish Daisy Miller, finally.  I'll let you know the final count later.  I still have time!!!


Love you, Friends.  I'm doing okay, for as much stress as I'm really and truly under this year.  I don't have my traditional Christmas sinus infection, and have been singing lots of carols.  Must do me good.


Hugs!

In the Swing of Things.

Hello.  Want to see what I've been shopping for today?


Sadly, not in my size: http://www.kohls.com/product/prd-1646389/Chaps-Solid-Knot-Front-Empire-Dress-Women-s.jsp


http://www.maurices.com/product/index.jsp?expcsl=1082313%7c%7c&productId=46107396


http://www.maurices.com/product/index.jsp?expcsl=1243207%7c%7c&productId=35494966


I'm also desperately trying to replace my favorite boots, because I am wearing them to pieces.  My favorite part about them is the soft rubber heel, though, and I am getting that soft heels are not in vogue.  Too bad!  Even with my back problems I can wear these all day.  Or go dancing.  Haven't been dancing in years.  ...But I could.


Things seem to be the new normal here.  That means I come home after work on Mondays and Fridays, around 6:15-6:30.  I leave work early on Wednesdays and do the frantic music thing:  Chesterfield to Warrenton, GO!  Warrenton to Wentzville - GO!  And then back to Warrenton.  One slow semi can really ruin my Wednesday.  You know how I hate being late.  Tuesdays and Thursdays I go to taiko.  Except last week.  I was sick. 


I was sick on my birthday.  It was terrible.  In fact, that doesn't cover it.  The weekend before my birthday, I went to Versailles to see my grandmother.  Friday morning, Abbie threw up, so she didn't get to come with us.  I was very sad and frustrated.  Why did she have to be sick THEN?  Unfortunately, I didn't know it, but I was sickening, myself.  The apple festival was fun, even if the parade was less spectacular than usual.  I even got to see a fiddle contest.  But there was no doubt by then.  I was coming down with something.  And it was my un-favorite:  Cold/fever/sinus infection.  That night Grant and I had tickets to see The Sound of Music.  I was at my worst, then.  At one point I looked over and realized that the reason no one was sitting next to Grant was that it was Abbie's empty seat, and I burst into tears.


Be nice.  I was sick.


I couldn't believe that poor Abbie had to miss the weekend so she wouldn't bring sick germs to my grandmother's house, and then I came down with a fever.  At least I stripped the sheets and put them into the washer so she wouldn't have to touch them...


The drive home was long, and I would like a sticker for having made it.  The next day, I fully intended to go to work, except that one of my awesome bosses was pregnant.  I asked her what she though, and she encouraged me to stay home.  She was right.


Therefore, I spent my birthday sick in bed.  I didn't even enjoy it.  Too miserable.


That birthday DEFINITELY doesn't count.


It has been two and a half weeks.  I think I might be better today.


Today, as you might have noticed, since I have a minute to write, I am not at work.  I leave shortly for the kids' parent-teacher conferences.  Josh is the one who helps them with homework now, since I work so far away.  [Insert sad face.]  However, I still win when it comes to explaining what someone said.  A teacher, for instance.


In other news, anyone want to buy a Honda Civic for $2,000.00?  Works great, with the exception of something electrical in the dash.  Extremely good gas mileage.


You see, I am only shopping in retaliation.  Josh has been looking at cars.


Next Saturday, Grant is running another 5K.  We pick up his number on Friday.  Abbie is doing the fun run.  Josh is running with Grant.  I am...not invited, apparently.  I will take pictures, then.


I feel like cooking something, but haven't any free time, so I've been asking around for crock pot recipes.  My friends rock. 


I think on Halloween, I want to do corn chowder in bread bowls.  Doesn't that sound seasonal?

Some things.

Tired, so am going with fragmentation today:


Peanut Butter ice cream plus honey whiskey = not as good as I was lead to believe. 


Day at home was a step in the direction of Child Responsibility, but ended on a bad note.


Springfield is so nice.  They love us, and help us, and occasionally confuse us with KODO.  *giggle*  I'll take it.


The Frisbee family is truly a gift to my life.  Truly.


Friday night was miserable.  Cold, drizzly, and the first thing I did was fall on stage and potentially mess up my knee for the rest of my life.  It feels warm and tingly, and shows no visible swelling.  Pretty bad sign.  It is Monday, and I am still taking Ibuprofen.


I can't have a bad knee.


Work wasn't bad, but it wasn't satisfying, either.


Did I mention that I CAN'T HAVE a bad knee?


Starting to feel separated from my home and family.


I bought a new book.  Will let you know how it goes.


Need to tell you the whole weekend story, but I can't.  Too tired.

Busy? Me? (Sarcastic? Me?)

Well, Friends, J-Fest has ended.  One of them, anyway.  We've had an unheard of ENTIRE WEEK in between the St. Louis Festival and the Springfield, MO one.  That starts Friday.  Taiko has been something I do continuously while living my life...sort of like blinking.  I even bought my fist new bachi since....my first bachi!  Just like Christmas.  And I'm making new Omiyage bachi for the weekend performance, so by the time I get to Springfield, my bachi population will have more than tripled!


So exciting.


In other news, we had our house looked at twice last week.  And we got our first official Un-No.  It was sort of an Eh-Maybe.  But that's better than No.  The second one was actually somewhat interesting.  We got a call at noon, just as I got into the shower. They wanted to look at the house at 1:30.  WHAT?!  I don't want to ruin your beautiful illusion of life at my house, but my house is not perpetually at One Hour From Spotless, even though it is for sale.  In fact, we requested that they always give 4 hours notice.  Apparently those are, "more guidelines than actual rules." Anyway, we did the Lightning Clean thing and took our selves away to Sams' Club to buy important stuff like Sweet Potato chips, black olives in bulk, dog food and stuffed salmon for dinner.  We came home and were annoyed that NO ONE HAD COME.  Well, we put on The Mummy for the kids (first time to see it!) and let the dogs in and were contemplating things like starting dinner, putting clothes in the wash and putting the rest of the Sam's Club stuff away, when someone knocked on the door. 


That's right.  2 hours late.  "Can we just come in anyway?"  I tried to put the dogs out, but the realtor insisted that I shouldn't.  She was kind of a hick, and I couldn't believe what she chose to wear to show a house.  I mean....I think it was sweat pants, for real.  Embarrassing situation for all involved.


We had stuffed salmon for dinner.


Yikes.  I am so SORE.  Motrin, you are my best friend.


Speaking of friends, I don't remember what any of mine look like, unless they play taiko.  I feel a picnic coming on!  Want to see my friends!!!


Song of the day (careful!  it's catchy!):  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-Qx5CBI3Hk


My work clothing is pretty much insufficient, but I will not be augmenting it, as my children seem to not own jeans that fit. 


I should start an indigogo campaign.  I will call it:  HELP!  I"M BROKE!


*sigh*

What Just Happened?

So, if you schedule a kid orthodontist appointment for late afternoon and have to miss it, say because you mother confiscates your children - including the one with the appointment - and whisks them away on vacation, and then doesn't return them on the originally scheduled day, your next appointment will be 11 am on a Wednesday.


Grant needs braces.  In January.  Josh doesn't see it happening, finances-wise.  He was hoping for at least another year.  SURPRISE!


House.  Still ours. 


Josh's work is not really going super well.  The CEO can't decide what she wants Josh's department to do, and it's starting to piss people off.


I still love my work.  And they love me (I hope).  I am full-time now, except when I have to take my children to the orthodontist.


Grant is 10.  His birthday was while he was on vacation.  I didn't like not being with him on his birthday.  We had a party last weekend at The Emperor's Palace in Chesterfield.  Great fun!  Then we hung out at the mall with the Frankes and watched Muppet Most Wanted at their house.  And I made a gooey butter cake that looks like a minion.  Can I birthday, or what?


I think thinks probably aren't going to change, even though we sometimes want/dread for them to.


Did I mention that my mother moved to Louisiana this week? 


By the way, my mother took a job teaching English at LSU.  My mother.  Who complains about traffic in Rolla.  Who can't handle city crime.  In Baton Rouge.


I still haven't got over the shock.


My dad doesn't retire until November, and even then he will divide his time between the states.  Crazy.


All my taiko family came back from Japan, and now we have the daunting task of being ready for the Japanese Festival when it gets here, which is a week and a half from now.  EEP!


Wish us luck.  And come out to see the show.  :)

Complaints.

Complaints are always a good topic of conversation don't you think?  First, I shall address yours, before moving on to mine.  :P


SOME of you have *ahem* mentioned that I haven't posted in a while.  This is the part where I explain that: 


I'm busy, damn it!


You might recall that the taiko group is going to Japan for two weeks.  I am not among those attending, but that hasn't stopped me from helping to prepare for the trip.  For instance - we have been collecting thank you  presents for those who donated monies for the travelers.  We have also been filming a complicated and goofy video to send to the taiko group in Japan as a thank you for the invitation.


There may have been lunch involved...






Also, I work.  Our paralegal left for a vacation in Mexico on the 17th.  Since that morning, I have been doing the work of 2 every day until 5 (you might recall that I was only part-time) and then sitting in traffic for 1.5 hours to get home, or 45 minutes to get to taiko, practice taiko, and then get home at 11:00.


My bosses actually all came up to me on Thursday (I turned red, of course) to tell me that whenever I want to be full time, they would love it.  I believe their words were that I "rock."  I think I will start doing that the week after the one that is about to start, since I agreed to get the kids to Columbia by 4:00 on Friday.


So!  Onto my complaining! 


Want to move away from Warren County R-III School District!!!  LIKENOW.


I think that's really my biggest complaint. 


I want these:


http://smile.amazon.com/s/ref=sr_kk_3?rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3Asanuk+yoga+sling+2&keywords=sanuk+yoga+sling+2&ie=UTF8&qid=1406160493


http://www.kohls.com/product/prd-1709689/Simply-Vera-Vera-Wang-Textured-Empire-Dress-Women-s.jsp


http://www.kohls.com/product/prd-1710808/Stooshy-Bootcut-Dress-Pants-Juniors.jsp?pfm=rrrecs-pdp-vert
We showed the kids Honey, I Shrunk the Kids yesterday.  It was a big hit.  Plus, they recognized Rick Moranis from Little Shop of Horrors and Ghostbusters.  Raising them right.  ;)
Did I complain that my children are going on vacation without me on Friday?  Everyone is going on vacation without me, and they are all leaving on Friday.  Coincidence?  Um..yes.
This makes me giggle:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDl9SDd1FJY
You know I can't resist a good style collision.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4d1JrJtKqAQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5iabyEebfCc


So, anyway...I am still alive.  Still doing stuff.  Love you, Friends!! 

Wednesday Evening Before Dinner

Hi.


How are you?  Read any good books lately?  See any new movies that you would recommend?


I finished The Ramayana.  I enjoyed it.  Then I grabbed Harry Potter for a break from new books.  I am kind of waiting for some sequels to come out in paperback.  But WHY??  I am a hard back person!  Because I can't afford hardbacks.  *sniffle*


We did our budget the other day.  Very depressing.


And I still need someone to buy my house.


I saw the Masterpiece Theater version of Agatha Christie's Cards On The Table with David Suchet.  I was very disappointed.  Not only did they change the end, they changed who the killer was AND the motivations of nearly every character!  Not pleased at all.  Plus, they added a lewd element that made me furious, since I let the kids watch it....because I was familiar with the story!!!  No fair.


We saw the second Thor movie, too, recently.  It was cute.  Enjoyed it.


Work is good.  Been working hard and getting lots done.  Today and yesterday I did a lot of manual labor, though.  I moved boxes full of closed cases, relocated boxes of continued cases, hid my enormous pile of shredding under my desk and cleaned all of the furnishings - thoroughly.  We had a fancy client coming in today.  So I'm exhausted.


I have a Dashi meeting Sunday, but no idea what Saturday is going to be like.  I'll have to see if Josh has been making plans..


MUAH!  Love you, Friends!

Still going!

Hi.  I'm reading the Ramayama.  Is that how you spell that?  Hope so.  Anyway, Tylar gave me the book after he was finished with the class he bought it for.  I happen to know that Tylar NEVER attempted to read the book.  Ask me how.  Go on, ask me.  Okay, well I know because several of the pages in the second chapter were attached at the outside edge.  I actually had to cut them to be able to read the story.


AHEM, Tylar.


Now that we are done casting stones at Tylar and his devoted scholarship, I would like to tell you briefly that I am alive, well, and fine.  Ready?  GO!


Created a work flow sheet at work to minimize the communication problems.  3/4 of my bosses thought it was a genius plan, and waxed poetic about how helpful the sheets were going to be.  A week and a half later, most of them have stopped using the papers.  Yeah.  But I still love my bosses.  They are pretty darn cool.  And I'm working really hard, but I don't have a very consistent inflow of work.  For instance:  Today I didn't get my 2 billed hours (1.9 - so close!!).  Yesterday, I billed 7.4


Kids are in summer school and enjoying it.  Grant wore a cowboy hat to school today, Abbie came home with home grown grass.


Taiko tomorrow, but I'm still not in the performances this weekend and next.  I'm very, VERY out of shape, to the point that I am afraid for my health.  I am wanting to ease back into a more muscle friendly life, but my new schedule is really an obstacle.


I can't believe it's almost the 4th of July.  Crazy.  And no one wants to buy my house.  I was really, really hoping to be moving soon.


Sniffle.


Wishing you all a happy weekend! 

Craptastic

1.  Less than a superhero at work.  In fact, I'm the bad kid.  I blame myself.  I had a rushed few days that are coming back to haunt me.  And I think they are also starting to assume that anything they aren't looking at - I have.  Bad combination.  Back to details, starting tomorrow.  And I'm going to hold off on offering to increase my hours.  :(


2.  Got a call from a random client who wanted me, as a representative of his lawyer, to listen to what Child Services was reporting him as accused of - on speaker phone.  NOT OKAY!  I am not meant to be involved in that.  And he wouldn't wait to be transferred, or for his actual attorney to call him back.  I was very flustered.


3.  Forgot Abbie's violin in the car.


4.  Didn't get a chance to eat any lunch.  Guess it's okay.  I'm not really that hungry.


5.  Summer School is NOT at the kids' school.  It's at the one across town.  It was flustering in the morning, but not a big deal.  I still got to work by 8.  However, after work, it took me extra long to get to the school, then I had to sit in a very, very, VERY long line of cars!!  On music lesson day!  I don't know what I'm going to do.  3 hours is as early as I can leave work for this.  If it's really going to take longer....  I can't bear to think about it.


6.  After all that waiting, only one child came out of the school.


7.  Grant informed his teacher that he had latchkey today.  That IS at my kids' school.  So I took Abbie and drove back across town to the other school.


8.  Grant wasn't at the school.  He'd gotten on the bus.


9. OH, FOR PETE'S SAKE!


10.  Had to cancel music lessons.  And tuition is due today. 


We are all together and home.  I am done with today. 

Sick Day Update

How sad is it that I only have time for an update because I am home sick today?


Today is the first school day of summer break.  Because they will be in summer school, Grant and Abbie's summer break is from today to tomorrow.  They start summer school Wednesday, and that lasts one month.  Then they will be at Andrew's Academy for July. 


I still love my job, and I hope the feeling is mutual.  I'm learning lots, although that has slowed a little and I plan to remind them to give me more new stuff.  Today I was going to announce that I can move my schedule a little.  Guess that will be waiting for tomorrow.  Darned sick germs.


Josh is working from home a lot now, which is why I am able to do the schedule change.  It's hard to say what is going on at his work.  Most times, he doesn't seem particularly worried, so I'm not either.


No one wants to buy our house.  No one even asked to see it this weekend or last week.


The kids will be going on a trip with my parents at the end of summer to Mt. Rushmore.  I will be staying home, of course.  And I'm not going to Japan either.  This is the year of everyone except me going on a fun trip.  Boo for that.  Maybe my house will sell to make up for it.


I don't like this being sick thing.


Brother was visiting last weekend, and we also saw Rob Krumlinde, our dear friend.  I've had lots of mandatory fun and a very full schedule for a very long time.  We were, in fact, supposed to spend yesterday at the zoo, but it was cancelled at the last minute.  Instead, we did grocery shopping, talked with the neighbors who came over for a few hours, and watched some of the Stephen Hawking science series narrated by Benedict Cumberbatch.  Then I got sick.


Boo for that last part.


I hope that you are all well, safe and happy today.  Take care.

Rush, rush!

Finished the book/s on Friday, and then had nothing to read, so I ordered some new books.  Yippee!  Books in the mail.  Can't wait.


I'm worried about my back.  I haven't had taiko in over a week.  Had a meeting Tuesday, called home for some child drama Thursday.  Overslept today.  Probably needed the sleep.


Mom came from Grant's 5k yesterday, and so did Dad, which was a surprise!  The weather was beautiful, and we all had a great time.  Grant got to pick lunch, so we had giant deli sandwiches from Poppy J's.


Lots of worrying about taking time off.  For some reason, everyone is wanting me to this year.  I'm going to Rolla for my music teacher's retirement party, I think.  Also, my parents want me to go with them on vacation for a week in August.  My alternative is to stay home and miss my own son's birthday, because that's when they scheduled it.  Also, Josh wants to take the kids to one of the Disney places this year. 


Stressed out.  My bosses probably think I only work when I feel like it.  :(


Off we go to shop for food.  Have a great rest of the weekend.

Mondays are for books.

Okay.  I'm reading the Anita Blake vampire books, but not on purpose.  Ever trap yourself this way?  I was talking to a very VAGUE acquaintance, and he mentioned that the Anita Blake books were set in St. Louis, and that if you lived there, you could tell where she was describing.  I said, "Oh, cool!"  I said it because I enjoy the thought behind the theory.  It would be cool to recognize the descriptions in a book you are reading.  Not many of them are about any areas I've been, let alone lived near.  However...I am not actually from St. Louis.  I don't live there now.  So, the descriptions wouldn't hold the same satisfaction for my as they would for my more urban counterparts.


The next week, the guy lent me a large hard back volume containing the first three books.


Remember the part in Pride and Prejudice when Charlotte claims that a woman has to show more enthusiasm than she feels to be noticed by gentlemen?  I beg to differ.  I don't know if it's true that a woman wouldn't jump from, "Oh, cool!" to, "I would like to read that book and would think it was great if you lent it to me, thereby insuring at least one more conversation with you when I return your book..." or if it is somehow less creepy if a woman were to do it.  These things I do not know.  Here's what I do know:  If it's me, it will always be a guy.  He will always assume that he should increase our friendship (et cetera) by loaning me something.  And pretty nearly always, that something will be a complete letdown. 


So, you won't be surprised that I am reading as fast as I can, just so I can get the book out of my house.


Anita Blake, and probably the author, too, is a very familiar, and not particularly lovable type.  I've met her.  More than one of her.  Her brain is average in both respects:  It is not clever.  It is not original.  She hangs out with men...usually the kind who read fantasy.  Among them, she is quite tough.  Probably because they are colossal wusses.  She has a smart mouth, because she is trying to be one of the guys, although it doesn't come off well from a girl.  She is not girlie.  She doesn't just not wear heels and dresses and make up and accessories, she has a philosophical objection to them, and will tell you all about it without much encouragement.  In fact, this gal is convinced that she is unique, quirky, charmingly offbeat, clever, tough, and superior.  She bores me with her attempts to be impressive.


In these books, Anita's male friends are primarily people she knows through work, and she surprised me by claiming at least two extremely close female friendships.  Oh, yeah, and she also raises zombies, kills vampires, goes WAY over the top with weaponry, and is quite negative.


Can you tell how much I am enjoying this stuff?


Enough about that.  Not worth it.


Someone looked at my house today.  Wonder what they thought of it?  The yard is hideous, but hopefully they were relieved that it had fewer dandelions than the two yards at the other end of the street.


Just had to tune Abbie's violin for her.  She had tried to tune it herself and the D string was flat....by about 2.5 whole steps.  Yeesh.


We are having breakfast for dinner tonight.  Usually I am more into it, but I am really not feeling it today.  Wish I was at St. Louis Bread Company having soup.


Today was one of those tired days.  It's Monday.  It's the day after a big family event, and the morning after we cleaned the whole house for the realtor.  And it was that gloomy partly cloudy, where the "cloudy" is big, dark thunderstorms, and the part that isn't mostly just draws attention to the clouds. 


Anyone running the Boston Marathon?  Hugs to all those guys! 


In other news, I have a dear friend of many years who is having a baby, and my cousin is, too!  And one of my bosses!  Guess it's a sign from above that I should go play in the baby clothes section.  ^_^

Hello, out there!

Some of you have expressed interest on whether or not I might have died, and forgotten to notify you of the fact.


Nope.  Not dead.


I still love the fact that I have my job.  I am now over the initial glow, though, and realize the difference between good days and bad ones.  A good day is when I am busily helping people all day long, things go as planned, and they also happen to be "billable".  I finish the day with more than 2 hours billed, lots accomplished, a cleaned off desk, 3 new clients (or so), and happy bosses.  Days I don't much like involve things like being told that I haven't billed enough, I don't get everything finished, or I do stuff and it's either wrong or doesn't stay fixed for some other reason.


The kids are super cheerful tonight, as there is no school tomorrow in honor of Good Friday.  We will all be going over to Josh's mom's Saturday instead of going to the history museum as originally planned.  Bummed that I had to cancel plans that I've had for several weeks, but I like dying eggs, so I am looking forward to the fun stuff.  We usually bring kites on Easter, but I think it's supposed to rain, so maybe I'll bring them Saturday.


The house has shown 4 times, I think.  No nibbles.  Really need to move!!!


Taiko is still going well.  We didn't have practice tonight, and then Sunday is a holiday, and Tuesday is a meeting.....I foresee needing to get back in shape starting Thursday. 


Smooch y'all!

Saturday with Pleasant Weather!

My house is clean and my windows are open.  (!!!!!!!)


Drove past a few of the houses that Josh has been obsessing about (all foreclosures).  Very disappointing.  Not disappointing - Mr. Goodcents for lunch.  Yumma.


Mom and Dad have been test driving cars today, and they really aren't that far away, but I haven't seen them yet.  Our lunch plans have become dinner plans. 


Our Lenton dinners have been shockingly un-sacrificial.  We've had crab cakes, lobster cakes (sounds decadent, but the crab cakes were better tasting) and last night we had one of my very favorites:  Stuffed Salmon from Sam's Club.  *drool*  Today Josh bought butterfly shrimp. 


Did I mention that I get to spend some money on myself?  I think I might buy some of my favorite movies on Bluray.  What do you think?  What should I get? 


What are your favorite movies?


Here are a few of mine:


Hunt for Red October
Amelie
The Red Violin
Second Hand Lions
The Princess Bride
Raiders of the Lost Arc
Willow
City Slickers
Scent of a Woman
Maverick
The 13th Warrior
Dark City
The Apartment
Love, Actually




Oh, I don't know.


So you heard about the plane that disappeared?  I hadn't.  My boss told me.  The accused me of living in a cave.  They are now saying that the plane didn't disappear by accident.  Are you picturing the passengers all living happily ever after on a tropical island?  Me, either.


Anyway, I am off to hang out with my family.  Happy weekend!

Write? Who has time to write?

We had fun at the dog show.  My mom surprised us by bringing her dog, Dixie.  It was super cold, but we had a great time petting all the dogs.  My grandmother and aunt were there, too.  Yay for family togetherness.


It was also great spending the night at my parents' house.  We had one of our best visits in years.  the kids picked a tree to begin building a tree house, and my dad presented them each with children's hammers and tape measures.  He washed my car for me, too.  And we ate a soup recipe for cheese tortellini soup.  Yum-o!  I brought a copy home.


Work is still great.  The house has been shown twice.  No offers yet.  I could use some extra sleep, but life is pretty good, on the whole.


Going to take the kids out to eat tonight, since Josh is off at a work dinner thing.


Looking forward to some more taiko in the future, too.  And I think I need to teach the next kids' class.


I want to start writing again.  Doesn't look like now is a good time for that, though.


I am hungry.  Let's go get DINNER!  >_<

Monday Greetings From My Living Room

It's Lundi Gras.  Therefore I am eating a bagel with Nutella on it for breakfast.


It is a snow day.  Boo for snow days.  Extra boo for EXTRA snow days.  Crossing my fingers that this will be the last one.  I am more than a little ready for spring temperatures.  I want to plan another picnic.


Yes, it's true.  I am in the picnic sort of mood again.  Wanna come?  It's going to be great.


In February, I read Winter's Tale and Ender's Game.  (February, apparently, is Two Word Title With Posessives month.)  Winter's Tale was inconsistent.  The first third told a descriptive, wild, fascinating story, which had an end.  Then there was the middle third, which introduced many, characters, some without an obvious point, and brought them all together in the city.  The city is a big deal in this book.  In fact, the two consistent points in the book are complete, doting, syrupy love for the City, and for Winter.  I share neither of those loves, but can appreciate them.  The final third attempted to intersect the first story with the second, despite their being set in different times, but took so long in doing it that it felt less like suspense and more like a good reason to stop reading.  Then, when it happens, the whole reason you were wanting it to is barely mentioned.  And there is a declaration that the city is now "balanced", but that is never supported by example or explained in any way.  How is it that the city has achieved balance?  They never say.  I find that a serious flaw.  The style of writing is prosy - almost to a fault, and very descriptive.  It is intelligent but opinionated, and unusual.  (Personally, I like my Unusual without the side of Opinionated.)


Ender's Game is practically a stylistic foil to Winter's Tale.  Sections of plot are told through brief dialog only, and it is always very Matter-of-Fact.  We follow Ender through his military education.  If you aren't interested in reading about SMALL children being trained to fight in space battles, don't pick this one up.  Also, it is not a happy book.  It was well done, though, and I'm glad I read it.  I'm also glad I read it on the Kindle, as I don't have plans to re-read this one.


Here are some other things that have been going on:


*  Still love work.


*Excited that next weekend is the AKC dog show in Columbia, MO.  I am going to take the kids again, and hopefully my mom will be there, and possibly my grandmother.  Afterward, I am going to my mommy's house to spend the night.  For the show, we have printed out the list of dog breeds, and are going to make a scavenger hunt list of dogs to photograph. 


*Did I already mention that our house is officially for sale?  It has a sign in the yard and everything.  So far, no one has even looked at it.  The day the sign went up in the yard, Josh and I got out an old bottle of Champagne we had for who knows how long. 


*The heat stopped blowing this morning, and the temperature dropped 8 degrees indoors.  I called Josh and he walked me through how to changed the filter.  All better. 


*Saturday night we went to a fancy 6 course wine dinner for Josh's work.  I now officially feel like I've been on an episode of Iron Chef. There was sushi, sea urchin on a tiny spoon with some avocado puree, Fuji apple kimchi salad with crackling pig's ear, delicious ramen with poached egg, duck two ways, braised pork rib on a steamed bun and mushrooms and rice, and pineapple, lychee, and mango sorbet with that sesame seed leather stuff.  And lots of wine.  My favorite was a Riesling called Kung Fu Girl.  Yum.


*The taiko drum fiasco has ended, and the paying for/what Andrew refuses to pay for fiasco is now beginning.  I don't know if I can handle it.


*Got called in for a Spring Parent-Teacher Conference for the first time.  It wasn't so bad.  I came out of it feeling like, rather than a specific complaint, they really just wanted to update me on the current average day.


*My parents sent us a King Cake.  It made us all smile.  We had it for breakfast Saturday morning.  Grant got the baby.  He was so excited!


*Going to have sushi with Molly sometime.  It will be fun.


*Really want this sort of weather to end, but want someone to buy the house ASAP, because I am intimidated by landscaping expectations.  And the mail lady needs to quit driving over my mailbox flower bed.


*I feel a little guilty.  We bought lobster cakes as our Ash Wednesday dinner.  It doesn't feel like sacrifice at all. 


SO!


I hope you are keeping warm.  Check your air filter.  Tomorrow is Mardi Gras, so I leave you with this song:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ToCu81R2d2g


And this one:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNNHOO4LfnE


Um....and this one:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1Lt5CUQ48U


And definitely this one:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TkLgT0Gwwnk


Oh, yeah!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVYMEpA1RGI

Things

Thing #1:  I am not dead!  I am attempting to adjust to the new schedule.  It's quite a change.


Thing #2:  I am having such a great time learning my new job.  Love it.  And you know what is great?  Being appreciated.  SERIOUSLY.  I re-organize a file.  Boss #1 walks by with Boss #2, picks up said file, shows it to Boss #2, giggles, and actually says, "Isn't that AWESOME?"  Then, Boss #2 says again how much they appreciate me.  *happy glow*


Thing #3:  The kids are now in "Latchkey" after school care 3 days a week.  I still get off early on Wednesdays, drive to Warrenton to pick them up, drive them to Wentzville for lessons, then drive them back home to Warrenton.  They also ride the bus one day a week.  It's a lot to remember.


Thing #4:  The weather has been so bad that I have yet to have a normal week.


Thing #5:  Pretty much no progress in Winter's Tale last week.  I just haven't really figured out when my reading time will be.


Thing #6:  Taxes.  Meh.


Thing #7:  Driving in reverse.  Meh.


Thing #8:  Taiko!  Finally getting the Oodaiko and chuu that we sent for repairs returned.  It was a fiasco, and a long story.  The short version:  UPS girl gave us wrong info, so when return-shipped to us, they were refused by local UPS.  Awesome.  On the totally un-necessary way back to CA, they were damaged.  After researching, I found that since the drums were okay, and the cases were trashed, filing a claim would be useless.  Only the drums were covered by insurance.  Then...they were shipped again.  Got to MO yesterday evening.  I will be going with Andrew to pick them up Tuesday after work.


Thing #9:  Celebrate the World show next Sunday!  Free!  Open to the public!  Family friendly! Indoor and climate controlled!!!  You know you want to come.  https://www.facebook.com/events/293044974176442/?ref_dashboard_filter=upcoming


Love you all!


Post Script:  I actually wrote this yesterday.  Don't know why it didn't publish correctly.  Here goes Take 2!

On The Eve (again)

Hi.  Today is my last day off before my new job.  It didn't really go as I had planned.  Mainly, that is because of the weather.  Yesterday and today were snow days for the kids, so not much of my unofficial list got checked off.


It really has been pretty pleasant.


Just now, though, I am starting to feel down.  Less than confident.  Less than content.  Less than willing.  Less than excited.  Less than energized.  It was all of a sudden.  I don't know what to blame, or assign it to.  Maybe it's just the weather getting to me.


But - ignoring that!


The weekend was fun!  Saturday, we braved the freezing rain and attended a friend's 5th birthday party at the bouncy house place.  Kids had a blast, and I got to meet my friend's new baby.  Always sweet.


In the evening, we took the kids to another friend's house, and went to celebrate Josh's birthday by seeing Alton Brown at The Fabulous Fox theater.  Very awesome.


The sidewalks did get icy, but the roads weren't bad.  Even so, I drove after we picked up the kids.
The next day I spent in bed with a headache.  I had not consumed a single drop of alcohol, so it seemed a little unfair to be burdened with a  hangover.  I was very afraid that I was becoming sick.
Monday I got lots of small tasks done, like paying bills, fighting with UPS about a taiko shipment, and doing laundry.  I also researched summer child care options, since I am going to need them now. 
I nearly forgot, in my business (busy-ness) that I had agreed to play taiko for some photography students to photograph.  Originally there were to be 3 of us, but one couldn't make it.  That made song selection a lot more difficult.  We jumped right into playing - without our usual 15-20 minutes of extensive warm ups.  We played, among other things: Hachijou, Matsuri Taiko, movement drill, Isami Goma, yatai Tobihi, Ashura, 2 person Tenchi (forgot to plan the wave and suffered for it), and Hanabi, pretty much without stopping.  I was tired at the end, but couldn't understand it.  "Man!" said I to one of the students, "I can play an hour long set when I'm in shape.  I must need practice!" Little did I realize, we had been playing for just over an hour and a half.  Without warm-ups.  I.AM.SORE.


Yesterday, the weather was bad and we stayed home.  Josh came home early, and taiko practice was cancelled.  Today we stayed home, Josh did not come home early, and music lessons were cancelled.


Tomorrow is my first day of work.  I really wish, on my first day, I didn't have to worry about road conditions and potential accidents of myself and/or others on my 45 minute commute.  I also wish I could think of something good to pack for lunch.  I want to use my new bento box.


Books I Read In January:
House of Leaves
A Passage to India
The Sugar Queen
Divergent
Storm Front


I am now reading Winter's Tale.  I like it, and can't think of what it reminds me of.


Hope you are all well, and if you are not, that you are improving with haste.  Perhaps on my way home from my new work tomorrow, I will buy a chocolate bar.  My hot chocolate today was not completely satisfactory.


Anyway, wish me luck!

Of a Sunday

For your reading pleasure:

http://www.viralnova.com/awesome-life-hacks/





http://www.today.com/pets/man-recreates-iconic-movie-scenes-help-very-patient-dog-2D11843880?Gt=43001


http://www.treehugger.com/slideshows/natural-sciences/glimpse-what-we-lost-10-extinct-animals-photos/#slide-top


http://www.boredpanda.com/must-see-historic-moments/




I have an announcement.  I have worked my last Saturday.  I was offered a job working for a family law firm in Chesterfield.  I will be a receptionist/clerk part time.  With luck, I will grow with the firm.  If you or anyone you know is in need of a family lawyer, let me know.  It also makes a fun new joke for me and Josh:  "Behave, or I'll take you to work with me."  Sadly, some of our friends have already asked if we are getting divorced, and another friend has affectively spread the rumor that I am expecting a baby.  *FALSE, PEOPLE!*  He is so pleased with himself, you have no idea.


As for the rest of things, I would say that we are all in health...pretty much.  We had a good day....pretty much.


There was running at the park.  It was a success.  There was fancy dinner.  It got burned.  There was sunshine and playing outside, and there was boxing and cleaning.  There was also a phone call that didn't end happily.  Oh, and there was a trip to the book store!  My Christmas Barnes and Noble gift cards are toast.


Trying to concentrate on the many good parts of the day!


We are watching Doctor Who these days.  We have seen some super old ones, and we also started with the "reboot" and have watched all of the 9th and 10th doctors.  We are on Matt Smith.




To the weather threatening to prevent school tomorrow, I say, "Don't even think about it."




Tired.  I need to finish reading Sugar Queen again so I can start my new books.

1,000 Words

What struck me as worthy lately:




http://www.today.com/id/54154424


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/01/07/brothers-grimm-homeland_n_4550804.html


http://themetapicture.com/ultra-realistic-fantasy-dolls-its-scary-how-real-they-look/


http://www.boredpanda.com/animal-children-photography-elena-shumilova/?image_id=animal-children-photography-elena-shumilova-16.jpg






https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dfuHwPtVQOc Percolatin Blues


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kCcpruNLrDM




Abbie and I are going to sing this together.  We've already learned it all:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TrwGCgnPoTQ




http://io9.com/12-of-the-most-astounding-living-fossils-known-to-sci-1506539384


https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10200352053110127&set=a.1646380805583.2081024.1418813608&type=1


https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151839800141231&set=p.10151839800141231&type=1


https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10202825903398775&set=p.10202825903398775&type=1  Shrimp!!

Something topical.

I get the feeling that I should be ashamed for it, but facebook is where I find most of the articles I read that give me some insight into the world's perspective.  Well, the country's, rather.  I find that there are depressingly few that made it to me from the world at large.


Today we celebrate the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.  - one of his century's greatest orators, and a man invaluable to the Civil Rights movement of America.


Recently on the facebook there was an article.  It was supposedly very controversial.  A man had posted on his blog a picture of himself getting his daughter ready for school, while using what I used to call a "baby hands-free device", or baby sling, so as to be taking care of both kids at once.  There was nothing startling in any way about the photo, so I honestly could not figure out why it was getting so much attention.  I looked at it closely.  Was he actually putting one of the kids in danger somehow?  Nope.  I was puzzled.  Finally, I broke down and read the article.  It ruined my day.  the man in the photo happened to be black, and other black people were making comments on the photo about the fact that his kids were of a lighter shade.  They accused him of taking care of some other man's kids, implying heavily that it was because his wife wasn't faithful.  All because he was a regular guy and wanted to prove to his wife that he took care of the kids while she was off being a nurse.


And I choose today to mention it.  From one perspective, (and I will admit that some days I believe it more than others) this is evidence that we are still feeling the after-effects of mistakes made by the majority race in the 50's and 60's.  We, the white people, ignored that there was a problem and lived as if there wasn't one.  The black population had to live racism and know it, and look into its eyes every day.  The consequence is that they still think in terms of race (even against each other), while the white population has the luxury to treat everyone as an individual.  As much as I wish this thought process for everyone, I understand that it is not the current reality.


Be kind to someone today.  Especially someone who might be suffering because of YOU.


**


In my own personal news, we have had a weekend of the unexpected.  Firstly, there was no school Friday.  After all the phone calls and emails and papers from school about making up snow days, it never occurred to me that this day was still off.  The kids told me Thursday, and I called the school to double check.  Then, that evening we met my mom halfway and she took the kids to her house.  It wasn't much notice.  We thought maybe we would go out Saturday night after I got off work.


Speaking of work, when I got there, Lisa spent an hour (not exaggerating.  A literal HOUR!!) bad-mouthing the other lady I work for before she gave me my work to do!  I nearly had a panic attack.  Very awkward. 


We had dinner at Applebee's.  I had a quesadilla burger, because the thought made me giggle.  It was actually very good, and I was stuffed.  At home, we'd decided that the wine and beer we'd had were plenty and stayed home and watched movies instead of going out.  Sunday, we were supposed to meet my mom at 1, so before noon, we were ready and waiting for her call saying she was leaving.  She didn't actually call until 2.  After we got the kids, we went grocery shopping and I was so tired and cranky.  Well, not really.  I was tired and impatient.  Part of it was because Grant was whiny.  We tried to shop as quick as possible, but when we got home it was still too late to make the new recipe I had planned, so I will make it tonight.


We played Boggle for family game night, and the kids got to watch their first episode of Myth Busters.  It was the one where they made the tornado shield.  Yay, science!


Now for my other news:  I have a job interview tomorrow at 11:30.  It is for a receptionist/clerk job for a law office in Chesterfield, MO.  The man I talked to was not a stranger.  He is the husband of one of Josh's co-workers.  I'm going to re-write my references in a few minutes, and pick clothes.


The upsides:  They will work with me about Wednesday afternoons, so the kids won't have to quit music lessons!!!!  If they like me enough, they will (much later, of course) train me to be a paralegal.
The downsides:  I would need after school care.  The commute is long, and traffic will be bad both ways, meaning - a lot of gas.  And I am not sure if I have enough clothes for a week's work of reception work at a law office...


So, I am excited.  I'll tell you how it goes.


No progress with the house selling.  I'm nervous.

Normalcy!

Kids at school!  WOO-HOO!  High five!!!!


/\


That was a high five.  See?  This one is you:  /  And this one is me:  \


...What was I saying about "normal"?


Anyway, I got all fancy and went looking for work.  It wasn't a huge success, but on my way back through Lake St. Louis, I stopped at Josh's work and decided to meet the HR department in person.  Outside the elevator I ran into 2 of Josh's co-workers who I know pretty well, and it really made my day!  Went to the third floor, met the HR lady, and then dropped in on Josh before leaving.  It was really nice.  And the sun was shining on my way home.  AH.....


..But I forgot to stop at the last place.  Whoops!  >_<


Came home and did a few random exercises.  I feel great, and I have every intention of running with the kids after school. 


Life is good.


Abbie likes this song:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LkihXCqigCo


Hugs to you all, because you are wonderful.
Muah!


(Did you forget that I am solar powered?)

Instead

Well, instead of exercising or finding work, I spent yesterday at home with the kids, scrubbing the refrigerator and moving stuff around, dusting, folding clothes and watching The Miracle Worker with Abbie.  Snow Day, you see.  Then I ran off to taiko after Josh brought my car back.

It was so cold driving home.  My toes still hurt from having been cold last night.

Taiko was good.  A little chilly in there, even when we were moving a lot.  We played Hachijou and the shime part to drive.  Some people left early, but not me.  I was the only one with a key to the building.

So all my hopes for job hunting rested on one day.  Today.  I spent most of the drive back to Warrenton looking around to see what companies I could visit, and thinking about how I wasn't warm yet.

Instead, I shall say home with the kids today.  It isn't so much a snow day as a "We can't have young children standing at bus stops in these temperatures" day.  Now that the sun has been up several hours, it is a balmy 3 degrees out.  Yum.

So much for planning.  I told my mother only yesterday that, "it is absolutely silly to get emotionally attached to any sort of plan this time of year."  And see?  I didn't know how right I was.

The new plan is to spend as much time as humanly possible in bed under my electric blanket during the day, and then hanging out with our dear friends (MISS THEM) tonight.  What do you think I should bring?

Tomorrow is Abbie's birthday.  Very excited about having Pizza Pro pizza buffet.  Can't wait.

Remember when this came out?  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nXLwPUr5F1k  Been humming it today.

I'm hungry.

Did I tell you that my aunt loaned me The Secret Keeper by Kate Morton?  I enjoyed it.  Now I am searching for something else to read, and don't have any ideas.  What do you think?  And now most of my own books are packed away.  Boo.

I hope someone buys the house in a hurry.