A big wet smooch to my brother in law

Smooches, Tim!

Kevin and I had a spontaneous dinner with the in-laws Saturday night. I shared my saga of woe, and showed off my new phone that I had programs all by myself. Now, this is an impressive feat, because I got married to avoid chores such as this. Then Tim, the lovely Tim, piped up and said, "I have a cell phone from work I barely used, do you want it?"

Yes, oh yes, please.

So I returned the old cell phone, had them program the new cell phone, and saved a tidy sum of change! Verizon was quite pleasant about the whole thing, and even offered to upgrade my software for FREE. I have previously explained my warm feelings for FREE.

There is just one tiny problem with the new cell phone. My ring tones lack discretion. My other phones had a benign ring. Something inoffensive with an unrecognizable tune. This phone is more gregarious. There are no subtle ring tones, they are all horrid. Leaving me with no choice but to choose a song...crickey! So if we are ever wandering pretentious art galleries together, or dining intimately at a candlelit bistro, and you find yourself thinking, "Is that Mozart's 'The Magic Flute?'"

Excuse me while I take a phone call.

A new phone

Took the dogs to Wright Park today, in retrospect a HUGE mistake. Too many squirrels for one thing. Dogs go crazy for squirrels, which means out of control dogs. They aren't that well behaved to begin with. So I'm meeting Kevin at the park, and stupid me decides to bring the dogs. As I'm walking around, I think "Boy, I better watch my phone, it could fall out of my pocket pretty easily."

Have you guessed the ending yet?

45 minutes later, I realized my phone has, yes indeed, fallen out of my pocket. I've been all over the park in the last 45 minutes, being dragged by my horrid dogs. Off the path, on the path, on the opposite side of the road, next to trees where squirrels have been sighted. All over. As I realize the phone has disappeared, Freya gets away from me and maims a squirrel. The rodent is dragging its body away from my dog, and I'm THIS CLOSE from driving to Las Vegas and leaving the dogs at the park. So I cry (very helpful), attempt for 2o minutes to find the phone (useless), track Kevin down at rehersal to cry some more (comforting, but he didn't have the phone), then try again to find the phone (still useless).

Then I say, Fuck it! I go buy a new phone. The lady asks me what kind of phone would I like? The cheap one, I respond.

A surprise visit

My good friend, Alicia, stopped by to visit me today. Fantastic timing, really, as she drove up mere minutes after I'd returned from Owen Beach. The dogs ran around, fetching and swimming, for nearly an hour. And no, they were not tired yet. Simply thirsty. In tote were two of her three genetic reproductions, the smiling Eddie and amazon-baby Anora. Alicia was so sweet about the dogs, especially Freya, the licker. The dogs just get SO EXCITED around kids, but they aren't with them enough to have a plan of behavior. But they did well, both kids and dogs.

Kevin and I went out to lunch today to Europa Bistro. Our lovely waiter got my order completely wrong, but since I was such a cream-puff about it (I didn't bother to replace it, just age it and quite delish it was) he gave it to me for FREE! I love free. Free anything: samples, chocolate, love. Bring it.

Then it was more walks with the dogs, a bit of a nap, a trip to the library, and ice cream for dinner. Tomorrow is a few hours of work in the morning as a favor. Then errands, chores, and happy hour. Not bad for a Friday.

Today is not that day

Over the past weekend I worked hard, attended a great conference, saw my husband in passing as opera season has begun, bought daffodil bulbs, and walked the dogs. I planned on telling ya'll about these things in charming, graphic detail (except the passing my husband part. It's not that kind of blog. What else would I talk about with my friends when our spouses aren't around if not "passing"). But I had a bad day. So you'll hear about it later.

I just purchased the newest Lisa Kleypas book "It Happened One Autumn." Been waiting for it for a couple months, as all my favorite romance authors have new books this fall. But I'm being a very good girl and saving it for the conference I'm attending this Sunday in Blaine, Washington.

Where is Blaine, Washington?

Go to Canada, then turn around. That little town you bought a Slurpee in on your way to Canada? That's Blaine. There is one nice resort, and that's the location of the conference. Should be fun. Am bringing wine for the room. Anything is fun with wine!

Thanks, Sam

As in Samual Clemens aka Mark Twain. I found a quote from him in ELLE magazine, of all bizarre places. But it fit my current mood. I'm thinking of having it tatooed on my forearm, so that I might meditate on it often.

"I have known a great many troubles, but most of them never happened."

It's been a good couple days. Here's hoping.

Live a Little Lust a Lot

I saw Nancy Pearl at the Tacoma Public Library tonight. Genius. She's written several books, the newest "More Book Lust" being her reason for the publicity circuit. This gal is after my own heart. She's a heavy reader (yeah!), discusses books on NPR, and her Book Lust series places books in interesting categories, like "Dick Lit" and "Girl Guides, or It's a Dark and Stormy Night, Good Thing You Have a Flashlight." Naturally, I bought both her books and got them signed. Since King Books, a Tacoma bookstore NOT a chain, and Tacoma Public Library bagged together for the reading, they both benefit from the sales. So I wasn't just buying books, I was contributing to the financial welfare of the library.

When Nancy signed my books, I told her that I used to bring books to restaurants as a kid, as The Babysitters' Club was more interesting than my family.

She has weekly recommendations at her website, www.nancypearl.com

Enjoy!

Days like these

It's a beautiful fall day, the classic kind pictured in movies and Lexus commercials. Sunny yet crisp, nature showing off her final glory before her long sleep. My shrubs are still alive, and the yellow chrysanthemums look pretty on the porch. Freya behaved herself at the park (Danica always behaves herself at the park). And my day started with coffee and waffles IN BED. Thanks Kev!

Choir is going exceptionally well this year. Last year was tough. The director suffered from memory lapses. He forgot that we are a volunteer community choir. With high standards, yes, but volunteers none the less. Our schedule was overloaded, and tempers were sharp. While I love working with the choir, I had a few thoughts of leaving. What was the point if it wasn't fun?

This year has charmed me back. We are working The Messiah, and rehearsals are a joy. The choir sounds amazing, the blend of each section is beautiful. We're watching the director, yet paying attention to each other. The group seems to love the connection we have as well as the sound we create. Don't get me wrong, it's hard. I have to work hard to keep up with all the musicians in the group. At the bottom of it, we are enjoying the work. I don't think we enjoyed it too much last year, despite our successes.

But I still need to practice today! Lots of 16th notes go very fast, and I need to keep up!

While I wasn't practicing, I made chili and snickerdoodles. I did laundry (always good for a quick sense of accomplishment). I walked the dogs and washed dishes. I'm still on my Lord of The Rings fix. Having finished all the DVD extras on all three movies, I'm now watching the movies themselves with commentary. I alternate between the Directors/Writers, the Design team, and the Production team. I can't decide who I love more, Peter Jackson or Howard Shore. And although I'd see it because I love Peter Jackson, I just found the trailer on line. King Kong looks AWESOME! I wasn't sure about Jack Black, but he works it.

The tree is gone

Kevin and I worked in the yard again today. And while there is still much to do, we have reached a milestone in home ownership.

The apple tree is down.

I fear that most lack understanding to the enormity of this event. My heart shudders at our beloved family and friends who have not heard the epic tale of our overgrown yard. For those ignorant souls, a recap:

We purchased our home in 2003, six months after the wedding. While our house has it's foibles, we were and continue to be pleased with our first home. It sits on a corner lot, up high from the road. From a neighbor we learned this lot had laid empty for 50 years prior to our home being built in 1994. Empty EXCEPT for the English Ivy and Blackberry bushes that had taken over, taken over like frat boys at $1 beer night at Kells. It was war, and the plants were winning. And this horrid apple tree hovered at the end of the line.

For the past 3 years, Kevin and I were lacking a plan. As I've said before, we debated and ruled out a towering inferno to take care of the problem. This summer, we started chipping away. Controlled chaos was preferable to rampant chaos. A truck load at a time, a few hours on the occasional weekend, and progress was made.

However, today is landmark. Today we cut down the apple tree. Guest might have missed it, as the blackberry and ivy completed covered its branches. After we cut it down, the tree didn't actually fall over until we hacked off the ivy from its base. That alone took three trips to the dump.

So while it's still as ugly as sin on a stick, the side of our yard looks much improved. Now if ya'll would like to donate a few thousand dollars, we can go for brilliance. Until then, controlled chaos it is.

Good Weekend

1. I bought new work shoes, finally. My habit has been old trainers until they fall apart. Kevin said this was not a good idea and dragged me around Tacoma to find the right pair. Felt like shopping with mother as a kid, like when she made me buy a new dress for a photograph when I was 12 years old. Somebody told her big collars looked good in pictures. Therefore, that's what I must have. But she only wanted to spend about $10 on said dress in 1990. Actually, Mom spent $12 on the most horrible dress this side of hell. It had a big collar, alright. It would have looked very sweet on a 5 year old. On a pre-teen, I looked like I belonged to the Mennonite community. I told her that I would never wear that ugly dress again. And I didn't.

2. I'm not pregnant, after being 10 days late and three negative pregnancy tests. Lots of tears. I'm quite frustrated with the whole thing.

3. We saw The Fantastic Four at The Blue Mouse. Quality entertainment for a Saturday afternoon.

4. Spent Saturday night pretending I was still in college at Steve's 35th Birthday, hosted by his lovely wife Christine (a work buddy). The theme was "Oktobarfest," or "Jagermeister 101." Steve aced the Jager portion of the party, as well as the puking-in-the-bathroom portion. Kevin graciously played DD, and I slept part of the night on the bathroom floor. Way too old for this shit.

5. Raining this morning, therefore perfect for hacking away at the side of the yard. Lots of blackberry bushes. Lots of ivy. Very wet. But looking better. Well done, us!

6. Roast chicken with potatoes, mini squash, Swiss chart, and Houge Merlot for dinner tonight.

7. Kevin has decided to re-arrange the living room. TV downstairs. We'll have some practice compromising, as he likes to watch movies and I prefer radio. Like now.

8. Practiced part 2 of The Messiah. Hard. More 16th notes that go very fast.