A sincere prayer

hee hee!

Happy Star Wars Day!

I used to have this book in hardcover. *sob*  Ah, the losses of life....

A week in a day!

I did more today than I usually do in a whole week!  And that's kinda sad, but we won't go there.

Bro blew into town from the Deep South and actually gave me (almost) 24 hours notice, which is MAJOR for him!  Usually, it's the same day notice, or he just shows up.  It's fun, and it's frustrating, all at the same time.  But, ultimately, I'm just delighted to see him!  Before he left today, we met for breakfast with his son and soon-to-be daughter-in-law and son's brother-from-another-mother (it's complicated, but it works).

It was 6:30 a.m. - we were all pretty cheery for such an early hour.  I kinda forgot 6:30 a.m. existed.

Aren't they sweet? Ah, young love....

I love my Bro!

After that (8:00 a.m.), I met Cinnamon for coffee, but didn't get any pics.  It was SUPER crowded at the coffeeshop and we didn't get to meet for long, but it was wonderful to catch up in person with her.  Here's an old-ish pic, just for reference, and 'cause I love pics.

Then, I did laundry, and walked to work.

Yes, I did.

Yup, not kidding, I did, both too and from.  30 minutes each way.

For agoraphobic, chicken-chit, "are you lookin' at ME?" me, that's big news!  And manohman, do I ever need the exercise.  It should be good for me.  Right?  Only one cat-call, so that's good.  On the way home, I noticed a flying pig in someone's front yard, empty plastic easter eggs scattered all over another yard, and had to suffer through smelling the absolutely BEST, most DELICIOUS smelling BBQ from one block away.

It was fun!  Mostly.  Now I'm jonesin' for some bbq.

I really wish I'd gotten pics of the pig and the eggs.  The pig was aDORable, just really cute in a not "squee" sort of way.  And the slaughtered easter eggs....  There are no words.  I'll just give you this:

eek.



Off topic, I had really pretty hair yesterday!

Cake

I can't stop thinking about cake.  Chocolate cake. cake cake cake.  All because I watched a video of an interview with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's wedding cake maker.

sooooooo pretty!

I could get Zingerman's:

Or an Arnie's Dutch Chocolate Torte

(like (H)andsome got me a few years ago)

It's my favorite cake, and they're local.

I could, of course, make for myself, but baking is a synthesis of chemistry, skill and magic.  I have never successfully made an edible cake.  Cupcakes, yes.  Cake, not so much.  And cupcakes are a TON of work.  Much easier to just buy a cake! 

Anglophilia

I stumbled out of bed at 5:30 a.m. to watch Prince William marry Catherine Middleton.  I loved it!  I think (H)andsome thinks I'm ... well, I don't know what he thinks.  Anyway, I loved it!  It was sweet, they're both beautiful, it was really joyful and something hopeful and cheerful.

I know several people who had pajama party/sleepovers for this, so I know I'm not the only one who enjoyed it.  I do wish I had someone to share it with, a repeating wish in my life.  I genuinely feel like it was a part of history!

New Look, Same Deal

I really like to read. Favorite thing to do. So I really like this new background and I hope you do, too! And aren't the kitties cute in the sunshine?

Well, it's been a lot of Nothing Cheerful around here.

I continue to crawl deeper into my emotional hidey-hole, not wanting to burden anyone (or shame myself). Vicious cycle of isolation. And then there's the pain. It comes back with a vengance. It's like a living thing, an entity, a reality. ugh.

Not too cheerful.

Thinking about the weekend

I'd originally planned to go out of town this weekend, or, have an out of town friend stay here.  Due to two tragedies befalling her family in the space of two months, those plans are in limbo.  So, reading the paper, I found this article about stuff going on and it has this video, which I've embedded here for your pleasure.  It made me smile!

Timing is everything

Our new schedule at work is good, it really is, even though I have a hard time remembering where I'm supposed to be each week and have to check all the time. It's three days on, three days off, three days on, three days off, THEN three days off, three days on, three days off, three days on, repeat. So, every month, we get a super-long weekend, which is really nice! It does mean fewer hours, less money. But the hardest thing is that, with working until 7:30 (store closes at 7:00 p.m. now), I can't schedule any classes for after work. They all seem to start at 7:00. Unless I join a proper gym or the Y. I can't afford that option. I've been very happy with the local recreation department fitness classes in the past, but their schedule doesn't fit mine. Bummer!

I've been taking an early-morning fitness class once a week that continues to kick my butt. And I'm losing flexibility. SO! I need to do some yoga. I love yoga! I haven't found a class I can afford that meets at a convenient time and I'm waaaay too shy to hook up with some random Craig's List person.  I have many DVDs and have downloaded many different options. Yet, I don't do them. I need a better/bigger space in which to practice, I don't like how slow they are, I blah blah blah. I WILL start, though, because getting my ass kicked once a week is apparently not enough for me.  I miss yoga.

Sweet St. Patrick's Day

How I spent my St. Patrick's Day:

With Bubba, a book, and a beer.

Then Handsome came out and so did more sunshine!

Bubba got sleepy, even though he didn't have any beer.

making stuff up

It's all about the escape lately.  Escaping from reality, of course.  I've been watching marathons of TV shows online (Morse, Lewis, Sherlock) and just not focusing on anything that needs to be done.  No laundry, no phone calls, no duties... hell, showering is an accomplishment.

So, part of that, the last few days, has been creating stuff.  I've made more author magnets, that I hope to sell at the bookstore. I enjoy making them and I love to think of them having a home out in the world!

And I've started making articulated paper dolls for the In-Law Family Reunion.  I thought I'd make these dolls, attach pictures of people's faces to each one, and make a family tree.  There are some kids attending; maybe they'll want to play with them.  Here are the first two, Mr. Handsome and me.

I realized, right off, that our heads are WAY too small.  Reminds me of Beetlejuice.


Sadly, I only realized this after printing all the faces.  Not a big deal, really.  I'll just make the faces bigger!  Hopefully, they won't get all pixelated. I should make clothes for them, too. We look like we're part of a cult, wearing some special garb or onesie! It's kinda fun making them, though it's a LOT of work, more than I'd anticipated. Here's hoping I stick with it!

I've got a dear friend who has had such trials this year, 2011, that it's genuinely unbelievable. And, of course, there's Japan. My worries and problems are completely insignificant. A cliche, I know... but so, so true.

chattering

The last few days I've been pet sitting for a beautiful husky/shepherd mix named Sweetie Pie and her kitty co-horts, the very regal and elegant Grey and silly, fiesty Tucker.  Their home is so comfortable and beautifully decorated; I want to live there.  Seriously, I wish I could stay the night, because it is SO difficult to both a) get my ass out of my nice warm bed to drive across town in the f-f-f-reezing cold at dawn and b) leave their sweet faces when I must, inevitably, leave.  I might ask their mommy if I can stay sometime when I'm babysitting for them.  It's been nice, though, to get out into the fresh, sparkling air and walk with Pie through her neighborhood.  And the kitties are VERY lovey.

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I'm catching a cold and it sucks.  I can feel it approaching, my throat is sore, soon to be raw; my nose is running like a leaky faucet; my body aches.  No way to stay home and rest.  Not only is there no one to cover for sick days at the bookstore, but I have to take care of Pie and Kitties.  AND, starting day after tomorrow, my neighbor's cats need care, too, twice a day meds.  Dreading that. Those cats hate me.  Well, no they don't.  But they hate their meds.

~   ~   ~  ~

Cleo had another serious episode last night.  So scary.  I wish I knew what triggered them.  I hope she's not suffering.  She doesn't SEEM to be; she seems just fine today.

~   ~   ~  ~

Well, that's just my surface chatter.  Lots more going on.  But I've got to get to work.