Hobby House Day

We went to the Hobby House today (after I visited my FAVORITE DOG in the WHOLE wide world)! It was a beautiful, sunny, cold day, really nice for driving into the country. We shared a delicious sandwich from Lucky's and some rather salty soup (this from someone whose father said she "must be part seagull, the way you eat salt.").

While we were at the Hobby House, we cleaned up the mess left behind from the removal of a chimney, cleaned out the "basement" (I use the "" because it's such a TINY space, less than a quarter of the size of the footprint of the house, which is listed at 682 sq.ft. and so low that Mr Handsome simply can NOT stand upright. It's really more of a cold cellar), and then he mucked around, bashing out holes in walls to see what was behind them and I huddled under many layers and read a book. And listened to lot of excellent classic rock, courtesy of WLAV! Man! It was just tune after tune that I loved! No crappy stuff! Yay!

Then we talked about how we'll set up the house (eventually) and drank tea. We have an electric kettle that Hometown Girl gave me many years ago. She and I used to drink pots of tea together. I miss the Home Girls!

Lovely Holidays

Well, it's almost all over! The pressure, the stress, the successes and failures! Goodbye to the Holiday Season! Due to weather, I had to cancel 2 trips, and I don't mind at ALL! We just stayed home and had a very Merry Christmas, in our jammies. I wish so strongly, so fervently, that ALL the people I want to see lived closer. All the Homegirls, Sis and Bro, Mamma and Papa - they all live so far away.... I miss them all dreadfully. So, this year, I'll be travelling more, so I can see them more often!
I'm on the phone with Sis. She gave me FIVE POUNDS of Gummi Letters (which I'd also asked for for my B-day (gummis, ymmies!)) and insisted I enjoy them responsibly, seeing as how I'm trying to not get fatter, lose weight, even! So, we agreed that I should spell a word, each time I delve into the FIVE POUND bag!

Snow Day!

(icanhascheezburger.com is the BEST!)

Seriously, I just can't get my act together gracefully in the mornings! But I do always make sure the kitty litter is cleaned. Oh, yeah; ya don't wanna mess around with that!

I got a snow day today! All the schools are closed, we're getting heavy snow, mixed with sleet in some places, and thunderstorms are possible (SHEESH!) I still want to do some Christmas shopping, though. I have no idea, at all, what to get people. It's just a drag to go buy crap that the recipient probably doesn't even like, much less want. This is the biggest reason I don't enjoy Christmas. I love to give gifts, I really do. Seeing someone's face light up when you've given him/her just the perfect gift brings helium to my heart. On the flip side, giving her/him something just for the sake of giving a gift brings no joy or lightness to anyone's heart. It detracts from the experience of giving AND receiving.

Anyway, the snow just keeps coming! I think I'll go shovel a bit. Mr Handsome said, an hour ago, that he was going to snowblow, but he looks pretty comfy!

Shopping with Head Cold

I have a cold. I took it shopping!

I got a few new (to me!) skirts for work and a couple sweaters that go with everything. Maybe I'll post pics of the outfits later. Oh, yeah, and some cute peeptoe pumps! Shexshay! I could not BELIEVE how crowded Goodwill was this Sunday afternoon, wow! All kinds of people, too. I always like to see what DVDs and CDs they have, but there was nothing I was interested in this time. Also, their bags and scarves are sadly limited. Back in the day, I used to be able to ALWAYS find lovely silk scarves and really sharp handbags. No longer. Now it's all junk. Even the church-mission thrift stores have a lot of junk. You really have to look carefully.

Anyway, I needed work clothes, so I'm glad I went! Speaking of work, we had these super-cute plush, giant microbes for sale forEVER, but an article in the paper about Book Doctor mentioned them and we sold out! Now, every day, people want them! So, we're getting more in! Cute stuff!

crunched-up Homebod, sleeping kitty

picture from icanhascheezburger.com

Bubba has a stealth mode where he, in the middle of the night, pushes me out of the middle of the bed, so I wind up all crunched up at the edge and he has the nice warm spot where I was! I don't know how he does it! I am NOT a sound or deep sleeper. I have frickin' insomnia! He's a stealthy kitty.

Slightly chagrined

How funny is THIS?!?! I'm gonna do this to the next doz I buy, 'cause Mr Handsome, I swear, he's addicted to eggs. This'll crack (heh heh) him up!


So, the Prius refused to start today. Maybe she was enjoying her long weekend (I actually had Saturday off!). Maybe she's out of shape since she doesn't have to work out very hard anymore. I dunno. But anyway, she wouldn't start. And it's kinda cold out, though this morning, it was above freezing and rainy, so not too cold. I walked to work. It was good for me, if rather slippy. I asked Mr Handsome to pick me up on his way home, though. I'm not a glutton for punishment, after all.












I do just have to say, though, that, I love having a Prius and all the smugness that implies (and that's where the chagrinedness comes in, 'cause I'm totally Smug, with a Capital S, about having a holier-than-SUV hybrid), but she's not the Tercel. I truly loved that cutie-cute car. She was the BEST CAR EVER. ever. Never a moment's trouble (ok, except for that nasty habit of overheating). I loved loved loved that car. I think she might be my fave car ever. Or ever to be. We'll see.







We went to the Cottage for dinner and enjoyed some delish sammys and beer (Bell's Two Hearted (click on the bottles to view), what I was enjoying at the Hobby House yesterday!) and just super-comfy ambiance. We both love that place. Just love it! AND it has a fireplace which is jussodarn cozy. Mostly, it's all about the relaxed, laid-back, very friendly service and good beer.

I was very tired by the end of the work day today, 'cause not only did I WALK TO WORK (took me 35 minutes, not long at all, don't feel sorry for me in the slightest, honestly), but I was SUPER-BUSY 'cause Book Doc had an interview in the paper yesterday and all sorts of paper-readers came in to check us out! YAY! It was a Thousand Dollar Day (approx), which rarely happens, even on the WEEKEND! YIPPEE!!! And I'm tired, 'cause I didn't get to sit down at all, not all day, and had no lunch, either. Which is sad. 'Cause I love food. I love to eat. mmmmm.... fooooooood.......

Just now, Mr Handsome and I shovelled off our hill of a driveway and the front walk, 'cause the rain turned to snow and ice and the Prius (all charged up by the TT) won't be able to safely negotiate the slippy slope tomorrow if we don't keep it clear. The snow is very pretty and shiny, but extremely heavy and sticky, like wet concrete. So, I got a hell of a workout today! Walking! Shovelling! Beer Drinking! Regardless, I signed Mr H and I up for Yoga classes starting in January, and I'm starting a "Deep Water Aerobics" class (sounds so serious!), too. We've taken yoga classes together before, and we're both really looking forward to it again. I love yoga! I always feel so much better (and LOOK so much better) when I'm doing yoga regularly.
















This amazing trixter is awesome.

cold!

It's very cold here.

Cleo is loving the heating pad, underneath her nest, in her cave of blankets! She complains, very, VERY loudly if we turn it off!















Bubba lies directly in front of the heat duct, with his face sometimes pressed against it. And he's got LOTS of fur (and fat) to insulate him!


I was going to meet Hometown Girl about an hour south of here, but there was a winter storm advisory for the area, so we chatted on the phone instead of risking the drive. We both hate, loathe, and detest the phone, but it was fun, anyway! We just chatted and chatted, much like we did when we were teens! I loved talking to her and feeling like we got to spend some time together, even if we didn't get any Christmas shopping done. I love her!

Then, Mr Handsome and I went to the Hobby House (the name for the cottage). There is just one, tiny, itty-bitty, little radiant heater out there and it was FREAKIN' COLD! Luckily, we brought provisions.



Seriously, it was so amazingly cold in the Hobby House, I spent the three hours we were there underneath a thick wool comforter along with all my layers (fleece turtleneck, long-underwear shirt, wool turtleneck, hat, mittens, ankle-length wool coat, two layers of long-john bottoms, leggings, jersey skirt, wool over-the-calf length socks, shearling slippers)! I finished one book and started another, drank copious amounts of hot tea (and a beer!) and listened to Spanish music. It was good, actually, to hang out out there with Mr. Handsome; I rarely go to the Hobby House, as there is nothing productive for me to do! That's why I just lazed around and read while Mr. Handsome did mysterious things having to do with sinks. Plumbing, I think he called it. I dunno. I'm just waiting to paint.

November - Lightning Round!

A giant Gummi Bear! HEAVEN!










Geese are always funny. Always.
















Our first snow (that stuck) Nov 9!








Some crazy shit has happened in Life recently and I've not been moved to blog about it. So, Sis, here's the update (Sis is the only one I ever hear from, so if anyone else if reading, I beg you, PLEASE leave a comment! Don't be a lurker :->):

Last night, after a lousy day at work (c'mon, how lousy can it be at a bookstore? Frankly, not lousy at ALL, but there were three individuals who were Not Nice At All and that's very unusual. Sadly, they affected my whole day), Mr Handsome and I went to HopCat, a very cool beer-centric bar downtown. Outside the door, a panhandler said she and her friend were really hungry, could we spare 90 cents? (90 cents? What the hell??) So, I said, I won't give you money, but I'll feed you dinner, if you're truly hungry. Yes, thank you very much she replied and I had no option but to lead them inside the restaurant! We actually had a nice time chatting with them. Shannon wound up on the streets after a devastating divorce and Geoff has mental health and addiction issues. They live under the 131 overpass. They refuse to go to the Mission. Their hands were so cold, like steel. Cold and hard. We talked about good ol' rock 'n roll. Stones, Who, Beatles, Zep, even got Journey in there, much to Geoff's disgust. He's a drummer. Used to gig a lot. Sad, sad stories. They liked their steaks. And the waitress was very friendly and courteous and didn't wrinkle her nose at our "friends" or raise an eyebrow or anything (past an initial expression of wariness). I hope I tipped her enough.

Thanksgiving was at Mr. Handsome's brother's house. It was fine. I have a hard time chatting easily with his family, but they are who they are, I am who I am, we simply don't mesh easily and that's ok! It's just kinda boring. The food was delicious, though!



Our tree
















last week's big snow








The weekend before TXGVG we got our tree and decorated; it's very festive! I did the mantle and the windows that flank the fireplace, too. I've got little stuff in the bathrooms and the TV room (we call it the Nest) and the kitchen, and a rustic wreath on the front and back doors. All in all, it's a nice Christmassy house!

toddler Mr Handsome and his Fa Fa (Father's Father)















Santa Face















Dad playing baseball in Occupied Japan















Russian egg with nativity scene (egg creche? sounds like food...)

















the whole mantle. Hmmm, my stocking seems to have fallen down!


















the east window







Then it snowed and snowed. It's been pretty snowy so far. It's snowing right now, as I type, and it looks like a snow globe out there!















Last week or so, I met Cinnamon at The Sparrows coffee house. It's a great place! I feel like I'm in a cool little neighborhood when I'm there (and I AM! It IS a cool neighborhood!) and it's not one of those "hipper-than-thou" places, like that well-established one in Eastown, which shall go unnamed. Cinnamon is always great to talk to. She's really centered and has an aura of strength and calm. But she's cool and interesting, too! We've known each other since we were peon secretary-types at NBD Bank (which no longer exists). She's always been just who she is, not fake or pretentious or judgemental or confused at all. We had a good time just chatting and will do it again, soon!

Two weeks ago, I got in an emotional tornado with someone. It came out of nowhere and swept me to a place I'd never been before. I felt a bit like Dorothy from Kansas, but I don't have ruby slippers, so I don't know how to get this relationship back home. It's still freaking me out a bit.

Before that, the bookstore got broken into. This is how we figured it: Some guy, walking past, saw our iMac sitting so proudly on the counter and decided he should have it. He chucked a convenient rock through the double-paned front door so hard that it went through the foyer door glass, too! Man! He could have a job with the Cubs! Anyway, the alarm was wailing and Book Doc came busting through the door that connects to the apartment, yelling "What the #@$% are you doing?!?!" so he took what he could grab, the iMac and the iPod and jumped back through the door (window) and ran down the street. It took forEVER for the cops to show up, in Book Doc's opinion, and then they did a lot of standing around until they got a tip on their squawkers that the dude might have been found. They ALL ran out, leaving BD alone in the unsafe store! BD stayed there all night, in the store, in the cold, with no weapon but the phone. She should've CALLED! And she should NOT have confronted the dude! She could've been killed or worse! Anyway, we lost the iPod and computer, which is a true drag, as we had not backed anything up. So, we're entering inventory all over again, piece by piece, but the new computer doesn't like the old printer and they have frequent spats. Then we have to hand-write receipts for people. Not a big deal, in the larger scheme of things. But Book Doc still feels uneasy, of course. The doors are all repaired now and we saved the rock. It's the Back-Up Rock and it's wearing a Santa hat, right now!

I wish I were more motivated to make stuff. I'd like to make this table runner-thing and scarf and pillow! Beautiful!

warm accessories

It's cold. I'm bustin' out the wool. I've got a few berets and sometimes they look cute on my head, othertimes I look super-geeky. I look a LOT like this girl, with my glasses, hair and the way I wear my berets.






I kinda wear my berets like a mushroom cap. Not the best way, maybe, but it keeps my ears warm.






I think these two are REALLY cute, especially the pink one. It's not the colors (I don't like those - two pastelley); it's the volume, the slouchyness - they just look more flattering, prettier, more feminine. I wonder, though, how they'd look with short hair. hmmm...





I love this outfit, she looks so graceful! Alas, I think I'm too old to wear it. Actually, I'm both too old AND too chubby. Ah, well. I can do something about the latter, at least! ;)

Snow leaves

Yesterday was the first significant (meaning it stuck and didn't melt) snow of the season. There's still snow out there, lying smugly on top of roofs, on leaves, reminding us of what's to come. Of course, we had a full complement of leaves on our lawn. All our other neighbors had been Good Citizens and raked Friday, when it was sunny and dry. It rained on Saturday, but since I was sick both Friday AND Saturday, it didn't matter: I had a lawn full of snowy leaves. Mr Handsome seems easy going to the point of being a push-over, if you don't know him. Don't let his laid-back, mellow attitude fool you. If the man doesn't want to do something, the man won't do it. Doesn't matter how one begs, demands, or bribes. He's immoveable. Unmoveable? Whatever.
Anyhoo, he sure as shit wasn't (and isn't) going to rake until every leaf has fallen from every tree. I can't wait that long. I feel so ashamed, being the only house with a golden carpet for a front lawn! I know, I know... I shouldn't let the opinions of others blah blah blah..., yeah, yeah, I know. But there it is. It is what it is.
So, I raked just about half today, from the (rather long, hilly and slippery) driveway and the front yard. The leaves were many, and determined to stay in their comfy bed on the lawn. And they're heavy. So, I did half. And I'm FREEZING! And nicely tired. Hopefully, I'll sleep well and dreamlessly tonight. The nightmares are getting bothersome again.
I was just thinking about some soup for lunch. Campbell's regular old red and white labelled stuff is what I've got in my cupboard. I looked at the calorie content. Did you all know that regular old Chicken Noodle has fewer calories that Tomato or Vegetable Beef? Also, fewer calories than the "25% less sodium than our regular product" Chicken Noodle! They increase the fat but lessen the sodium! Cheaters. Read your labels, People.
I think I'll ponder my soup choice over a beer. mmmmm.... beerrrrrr......

YES!

Family Fun!

Last night, we went over to the Bean Patch! Lima made DELISH cheesy potatoes and Eagle grilled and BBQ-ed some lovey, thick, tender pork chops. MMmmmmmmm.....!!! With ice-cream sundaes for dessert, with lots of toppings. The Beansprouts, Sweet Pea and Sugar Pea, were so much fun to read with and play with!


















Here's Sugar Pea reading to Mr. Handsome. Sugar is a reading machine!











Sweet Pea and Sugar Pea and I played Candyland. It was a VERY competitive game, with lots of back-and-forth. Eventually, Sugar won, Sweet Pea came in second and I was a distant third.

After the sprouts went to bed (I got to read Sweet a couple chapters from Junie B. Jones and the Stinky, Smelly Bus), we grown-ups enjoyed the nice autumnal night, with a fire in their chimneria and then played euchre. Eagle and I were teamed up and, oh YEAH, we smoked 'em! heh heh!

Lima took down a Play House to set up the card table - can you see her head poking up the top?







Eagle did most of the work in their house, including these gorgeous built-in bookcases. He laughed when told us about his learning curve for building a built-in, though: He forgot to allow extra space to lean the cases into their cubby, so they were too big! He had to cut off several inches to make them fit. Frustrating at the time, funny now!





















Mr Handsome and I were late last night because there was an unfortunate event with the dishwasher involving a leak that turned the basement into a rainforest. He thought he'd fixed it last night, but, lo and behold, the dam# thing isn't draining properly this morning. So, here he is, trying to figure out what the problem is.
Here's hoping he won't have to do any plumbing! It's his Absolutely Least Favorite Thing In The Whole Wide World.
















The kitties are unconcerned with any human drama going on in the kitchen.
Cleo just has her lunch and Bubba monitors the street.