I miss my Sis

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My Sissie and I used to play this game, Beep. We'd chase each other around, really do battle to beep each other's noses. Silly, I know, especially when bruises were the result! But it was fun! I feel so sorry for only kids. I had FOUR kids to play with! Well, really only three, since Richard Samuel always scurried away to his hidey-hole. He always wanted to be an only child. Now, we let him be one. He's like a beach where e. coli has been found - "no contact!" Actually, I'm more than willing to brave the water, but he remains barricaded off. Ah, well. Families - what can ya do?

I'm so grateful that Sis#1, Bro and Sissie and I are close now. We're going to get together again in October! This year has been GREAT for family get-togethers! YAY!

Color Time!

I'm Violet!

you are violet #EE82EE

Your dominant hues are red and blue. You're confident and like showing people new ideas. You play well with others and can be very influential if you want to be. Your saturation level is lower than average - You don't stress out over things and don't understand people who do. Finishing projects may sometimes be a challenge, but you schedule time as you see fit and the important things all happen in the end, even if not everyone sees your grand master plan. Your outlook on life is bright. You see good things in situations where others may not be able to, and it frustrates you to see them get down on everything.

the spacefem.com html color quiz

I actually think it's pretty darn accurate, or at least, accurate on my BEST days. What's your's?










oh, right... no "n" in "violet."

Time warp

Today, I'm updating past posts. I'm in Seattle right now, adding pics!

http://jennwith2enns.blogspot.com/2008/05/seattle-day-two.html

but, just to give you a smile,


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mmmm Cajun....

Lima and I just had dinner and non-stop convo at Chez Bayou in Eastown. It was very cute in there! They've tried to make it feel like you're in a little place in the French Quarter, sitting on a balcony, looking into a courtyard. It's completely different from anything else in town - and that's a good thing! And the food was yummy, too! AND they have good beer on tap. I had Fuller's ESB, which went down nice and easy. Lima and I walked from my house. Nice to stretch our legs! We saw many lovely gardens on the way. This time of year is usually pretty dessicated, gardens limp and pale, wasted from heat, sun and drought. But this year has been kind and everything is exploding with color and fragrance and tallness! It's brilliant! We also passed one kinda scary house - lots of people hanging out, wearing their gang togs, staring hard at us as we passed. It was all ok; just awkward for a mo'.

It was wonderful to just chitty chat and blab with Lima! We got into some deep subjects, too, but after a couple beers, we were just giggly. Good thing we walked! She's getting her house painted right now. I'm a bit jealous. My dining room has been half-way prepped for painting for over two years now. * sigh * Procrastination isn't a habit with me; it's a way of life.

Ramble on...

WARNING! This is going to be a very rambley, disjointed post. Musings only; not linear.




I wish I could know this guy:
http://americanrevwar.homestead.com/files/hamilt.htm FASCINATING dude! And sexy, you just KNOW this guy had sex-appeal and charisma in spades! He did more by the time he was 30 than anyone I've ever met.

Here he is, addressing a mob! I just think he had no fear, no fear at all.

Anyone know of a superior bio I can read?






I need to clean my house. I cleaned the living room and dining room windows (well, the east and west (respectively) windows. The southern ones will just have to remain disgustingly grimy for now) today, but the upstairs is out of control. I'm trolling the net for inspiration.
http://thoushaltclean.com/ I can't make that be "clicky."
Snow White was nuts. Have you watched that movie lately? All she wanted was to cook and clean for those guys. That was ALL she wanted! Geez!

I'm cranky today. Allergies are swelling my tissues painfully. And I'm really tired. I know, TMI. I just showed my dorkness, didn't I? Oh, well.

So, I'm also looking at soothing pictures. Peaceful. Pretty. I miss Nature. This is at Potato Creek Park in Indiana. I took it myself!














These are just pretty, taken from the 'net.

Summer

This Summer has been so beautiful, like a memory. When I was a kid, all the summers were gorgeous and not too hot, with just the right number of thunderstorms. I wish I could savor Summer like I did when I was a kid. But I don't want to be a kid again. Nope.

I'm just in a really good mood right now. Finished IMing with Bro and Sissie and Spy Master earlier. I love my family. I miss my family. I wish, I wish, I WISH I could be closer, geographically, to all the people I love. * sigh * But wait, I AM in a super-duper good mood.

The weather has been exemplary. I've been babysitting Samba, the best dog in the whole wide world. Everyone is as healthy and happy as can be (as far as I know). It's a good time.

I love my job and I work with really good, truly good, people. And the guys down the street, Mr Charles and Mr Wealthy... I feel like knowing them is a gift. They add sunshine to cloudy days! They add pink to my cotton candy! they make me smile.... I don't have a picture, though. Maybe in the future.
This is me and Gina! She's in charge of the kids' area and she knows her shit, let me tell you!

I am almost afraid to allow myself to feel as happy as I want to feel about this job. It's my dream job. I want this bookstore to do WELL! I want it to be a place where people make sure they go, where they tell all their friends and they go, too! I want it to suceed.

So, this is just a postcard, really, of life today. This very day. I hope anyone reading this is ALSO having a good life today!

To Facebook or not to Facebook...

... that is my question. I joined FB so I could catch up with my fellow foot-soldier in the secretary wars, who I'll call Cinnamon (she has lovely hair). Her page looks AWESOME! All kinds of neat-o stuff on it, widgetie-type things and pics and badges and people leaving messages. It's tempting to do the same! But I have a hard enough time keeping up with this. And in order to really be sharing with friends and family, they, too, have to sign up with FB, whereas they can just look at this and leave a comment. So, I remain undecided....

Any comments? Anyone reading this? HELLO, HELlo, hello..., Is there anybody out there?

BBQ

It was a successful party, against all odds, 'cause I just didn't have my head in the right place for the whole planning, expectation, anticipation and all other -tions for this party.

Mr Handsome and I (grilled chicken, BBQ sauce from scratch) tidied up the yard and driveway; put a speaker in the window so we had tunes; hung a bright red apron from our portico; put out tables, with vintage cloths and napkins; used our blue-glass plates, our wine stems with blue in the stem, and the FISH GLASSES!
We put drinks in our big, metal tub with ice (Mr Handsome wanted the Blonde to bring ice, per tradition, but felt so bad that she was sick! We always forget ice and I always wind up calling her in a panic to please bring some!). Drinks means a ginormous bottle of pino grigio, Two-Hearted Ale (Bell's), IPA (Founder's) and Oberon (Bell's again). Also, some Coor's Light for Museum Girl and Law Man, kiwi-strawberry juice and milk for the kids, and baby cans of Coke products. How CUTE are those baby cans?!?! That's the only reason I bought them, their inherent cuteness - what can I say, I'm a sucker for marketing.
We also put some philodendrons outside, with my little gnomes peeking out, to dress up the driveway and back door.

Lima and her crew brought a DELISH Mexican 7-layer dip and masses of really tasty (read: salty) chips and came early, around 6, so they had to help us a bit. I had stuff for the kids: hats, bunny ears, a tiara, necklaces, dump trucks, sidewalk chalk, bubbles, crayons and huge paper, a couple other little things... but the total HIT of the party was when Furniture Couple (Magic Salad! YUM!) and their Pillow (kid) brought an artillery toy! Oh, yeah they did! It was a rocket launcher, powered by a person jumping on an air pillow. The air in the pillow is forced out through a hose to the pipe that launches the foam-padded/tipped rocket. It was a blast! heh heh - blast, get it? We also brought out our little mini-tramp for the kids to jump on, and some sparklers, once it got dark.

We had lots of chairs and the chaise lounge kinda scattered around the backyard, deck and driveway, into little conversational groups, but everyone seemed to be congregating around the grill and the food and drinks tables, so we moved them all to the driveway. Mr Handsome strung fairy lights around the perimeter of the yard and I put out lots of candles in jam jars. I'm beyond disappointed that we didn't take any pictures! My camera's battery's dead and Mr Handsome forgot his camera! WAH! The yard looked so pretty, filled up with friends. I just wish like ANYTHING I'd had my shit together more on that front.

Conversation flowed pretty well and everyone seemed to get along well. Book Doc, Museum Girl and Law Man really hit it off! Only one instance of tears: Pillow kept playing with the rocket launcher while we were eating and it hit a couple of people (one of them was me), so I told him we'd have to stop the artillery until after dinner. Tears ensued. He survived. Stickers with shiny bugs helped to dry the tears up. It's very hard being three.

Mr Handsome and I didn't get to bed until 2:00 a.m.! We both prefer to clean up the night OF the party, rather than waking up to a gawd-awful mess. I had to get up at the butt-crack of dawn for a dog call and I've felt rather unwell all day because of the lack of sleep. I only had two glasses of wine, so I KNOW it's not a hangover. But it was worth it, we both had SUCH a good time. We use to throw parties on a regular basis, much larger than this one. We were both very worried that we'd fail after being out of practice for so long. But it was a LOT of fun. I'll rally tomorrow. I've got Monday off! Except for a couple dog calls. And they're for the BEST boy-dog in the WHOLE wide world!

It's coming....

The Cookout... It's coming, this Saturday, to a backyard near ME!

Mr Handsome and I will be BBQing some bawk-bawk and plying our guests with drink. Children will be involved, so the drink will be pretty mild. Some friends are bringing games of the racquet and stick variety. I've already got bubbles and a tiara for the kiddies... but who gets the tiara??????? Ooooooh, dilemma.




Also, it's a tee-tiny backyard. I know we won't be able to fit in badmitton and croquet. But, whatevs. It'll all work out. People will deal. It'll be fine. As long as no kids make their way to the alley or into the busy front street, we'll be fine. These pics are from 2-3 years ago; the garden is even FULLER (i.e. more overgrown = less room to move) now. HA! It'll be somethin', alright.

It's pretty, though, isn't it? We're going to have fairy lights up and a table for the food. We'll have chairs all over and bug spray and ... it'll all work out. I'll post pics. With the black bar (or replacement image) in place for those who want privacy, but I know my sis, Sissie, will appreciate seeing pics! And, I really think it'll be fun!

Wander Indiana, wander Indiana, wander Indiaaaaaaana!

I went down to Rochester, IN to visit Sis#1 and Fam last weekend! Sissie came from Seattle, too! Bro couldn't make it, but is trying for September. It was a LOT of fun to hang out with my sisses and Sis#1's Family!

Sis#1, Metal Man and Sissie emerging from Trail Number 4 (the Trail of Death!!!!! Rumor has it that it's haunted!!!! ooooohh!!!!!!!)

Here she is! The Best Dog In The Whole Universe! JASMINE!!!!!



I'm tellin' ya, NO ONE can just plain enjoy themselves like MY family! I think it's because we accept each other, with all our manifold differences; we love each other. We want to enjoy our time together, so we DO! Even if my feet blister up after an hour of walking (my own fault, because I wasn't prepared for a real hike! I only brought little shoes, not sturdy shoes and my feet suffered for it, dam# feet! They blister up like over-cooked chicken skin).

We went to Potato Creek State Park, which I highly recommend to anyone in the northern-ish area of IN. It's a very pretty park, has a beach, a biking trail, camping, good hiking trails and it's horse friendly. It also has a sweet little nature center, which I skimmed over, because I just needed to sit, at that point (dam# Fibromyalgia!!! It just stops me cold and I HAVE to rest).
Sis#1 was so cute - she flirted with her hubby, Metal Man, to get the "ok" to bring the pooch, Jasmine, on our hike. She was all fluttering the eyelashes and giving a sly smile and being genuinely adorable! Of COURSE, Metal Man couldn't resist and we brought The Best Behaved Dog In The World with us! Sadly, the powers that be (in the Indiana State Park system) wouldn't let us bring her in a canoe, so canoeing (or kayaking) will have to wait until Sept., when Bro can be here, too. And, hopefully, Mr Handsome.





There was a very pretty lake and a magical looking stream (hmmmm, maybe it was Potato Creek! HA!) that we came across on our walk. Jasmine was happy to jump in the stream. Metal Man was less thrilled, but went along with it, with good grace. It was a very, very hot, humid and heavy day, but so nice to be outside! I spend WAAAAAY too much time indoors, now that I'm not walking dogs anymore.

Sis#1 refreshed us on the rules for the card game Hearts, and promptly spanked us all. Man, we lost big. She's always been good at math-type stuff and I think cards are kinda in that category. You do, after all, have to remember the cards that have been played and figure out the probabilities of the other cards arising. I always thought Sis#1 would be an amazing and inspiring teacher. When I was in the 9th grade, and failing algebra, she taught me and I passed with a B! Now, keep in mind that this was during a time when she and I were NOT getting along (teen-age rebellion and all that implies), so for her to be able to bridge that bias (mine) and teach me what my paid-for teacher could not.... well, I call that amazing! And, y'know what? Sometimes, to this day, I make up algebra problems in my head to relax myself. Yup, I do. http://www.KissMyMath.com/ Now, I love algebra, thanks to Sis#1. That's what a good teacher will do for ya.

Ok, so, AAAAANYway, we also played Wii, which was TONS of fun, and I did, if I do say so myself (and I DO) excel at Laser Tennis Thingy! I totally rocked! My nephew, Gorgeous Eyes, was an excellent host (it's his game) and made sure we all got a chance to play his Wii. Now, this is more generous than you may immediately assume, because Gorgeous Eyes has muscular dystrophy and is unable to physically play, but, by encouraging all of us to play (and enjoying OUR enjoyment), has a larger spirit than anyone (absolutely ANYONE) I've _EVER_ met. http://www.mda.org/disease/dmd.html This kid (oops, I mean, this man, 'cause he's fully grown, it's just difficult for us Auntie-types to give up the "you're just a kid!" bit!) is a real-life, bona-fide, certifiable inspiration, which would make him blush, but there it is - truth.

Sissie, Gorgeous Eyes (wrapped up in a blanket), Metal Man and Sis#1

Me and Sis#1
Did I already say that I kicked A$$ at Laser Tennis Thingy?!?! 'Cause, I surely did!!!!! Metal Man whomped us ALL at bowling, though. He got 5 strikes - IN A ROW, people!!!!! WOW! And he totally did NOT lord it over us. He was very genteel about the whole winning thing! Very sweet.

It was such a great time, to be with my family. I miss them awfully. They may not "get" me (make-up, clothes, celebrity gossip), and sometimes they may not even like me (cranky; weak; blistered feet), but they DO accept me. And that's a rare, precious thing.