The Captain and the Kid

While Kevin and I spend too many long hours commiserating, rehashing, and psycho-analyzing (emphasis on the psycho) various dramas that would put a group of 8th grade girls to shame, I have to say a thankful prayer for the health and safety of our combined families. It's been a rough month for many.

A close friend of Kevin's parents, Sarah Creswell (sp), died unexpectedly while on vacation in Hawaii. She leaves a large group of family and friends who miss her terribly, including her husband, Jeff, three accomplished and loving kids plus spouses, and two grandchildren.

A co-worker lost her beloved "two-peas-in-a-pod" brother in a tragic car accident on the way home from Lake Chelan. He survived Iraq and was her "best man" for her September wedding. Say a prayer for all, including the survivor of the accident.

My darling Camille discusses on her blog her mother's valiant battle with cancer, and the decision to work with hospice care as her disease is classified as "terminal." She writes with more eloquence, honesty, and courage then I can repeat with justice. Take a look at her blog, and send her your support.

We have survived our camping trip, quite dirty in the process. While the weather was varied, Kevin and I managed to survive some surprising thunderclouds. Saturday evening was perfection, with great food and company. But we did wake at 3:30am to put up the rain cover due to surprising demand!

More details to come....

Tellyermommahi!

As I bravely dip my sweet little toe into the blogging world, I've been quite flattered that a few gals have come to visit me. And they comment! Unlike many of my friends, who are big nasty lurkers and don't feed my ego.

"And if there is anything more important than my ego around here I want it taken out and shot."

So go visit them, because they are witty, entertaining, and regular writers.

Unlike Jay, who is too busy running a business, being a new dad, and taking care of his beautiful wife to entertain the likes of us.

BelleChats

Mrs. Flinger

Molly from Iowa
(she even has a link to Camille's blog!)

I worked today.

It's still hot outside.

Camping this weekend=prep work to be done=less time for doing jackshit.

No major emotional breakdowns in the last couple of days.

Received my brother's wedding invite today. It's red and black, featuring multiple headstones in a cemetery. David and Beth are VERY SERIOUS about death do us part. It's awesome.

Oops! Been a bit, hasn't it? I'm at the end of a long hot weekend. Up into the 90's here in Tacoma. I kind of like it. Wearing the heat like a second skin. I've spent loads of time lolling about in the backyard, feet in the puppies' swimming pool, drinking iced tea and reading mystery novels.

Girls' Night In was a huge success, and I can't wait until the next time. It's nice having it at my house (no driving for me), and we could really lounge about without worrying about waiters (even cute ones). Loads of unhealthy food, tons of wine (of which I partook), and lots of gossiping. Lots of baby talk, and that was alright. I figured I'd say something if necessary. But it wasn't. Although I did point out, "I'd just like you all to be aware that since you've arrived, neither one of my children have starting screaming or thrown a tantrum." The girls were truly appreciative. Lena posted some great pics on her blog, so go take a peak.

But boy, was I hurting the next morning. I starting hurting once Lena left. Kevin kindly put a pillow on the bathroom floor for my benefit. No upset tummy, but very dizzy. It took until 12 noon the next day to get my grip on. The girls are to NEVER EVER let me do that again, because I am too old for that shit. Lena said she didn't realize that I'd had so much wine. Neither had I, and therefore the problem.

We camp next week at La Wis Wis, a campsite without showers. Nancy and I are already in withdrawl. She's worse, because that woman brings her blowdryer and razors....camping. Kevin and I are hoping that it won't get too hot, among other hopes.

I'm terribly jealous of Camille's new sofa. I want one for my very own.

After a long day at work (where we put in a revolving door and I just missed it on the way in), Steve kindly treated Kevin and me to dinner at East/West Cafe. Yummy! For Kevin, it was a thank you in helping him move his big-ass manly TV. For me, it was because I wanted a present.

Steve is now officially my favorite friend. Pay attention people.

Naturally, it's gorgeous now that I'm at work. It better stay nice for when I have a few days off! I have a new bikini to lay around the yard in, slathered in sunscreen and self-tanner lotion. But it feels like I'm tanning, without the sun damage.

I'm taking a month off the pregnancy wagon, due to some herbs perscribed by my acupuncturist. We're hoping to lose the cyst without surgery. Something about damp heat/stagnant bloodflow/blocked chi. It really makes sense when Onika is talking about it. Guess I'll just have to have sex with my husband for recreational purposes.

As my first due date gets closer, and I see more patients with that due date, things get harder and harder. No crying in baseball, right girls? But I don't love my job as much as I normally do. Maybe I'll like it again in September.

Lena does remember the name of the waiter.

Luke.

Guess she was paying more attention to those things.

I woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning. Grumpy and grouchy. Not so much about baby stuff, just all-over irritated. (Freudian slip, I almost typed irritating. I'm sure that's also accurate) But I'm learning. Rather than snapping at my husband, I politely made my request. On days when he doesn't go to work until 10-12 o'clock, would he please get some stuff done around the house instead of treating it as long, hang out time? He smiled, said of course, and all was well. It's a funny comparison. Kevin rarely asks me to do anything around the house (well, there was that time he threw all my clothes on my side of the bed in a snit, then wanted to have sex. With me). If I hang out and read all day on my day off, he thinks that's charming. However, the clothes don't wash themselves. Neither do dishes, neither does the bathroom floor.

Yes, Lena, that line sounds familiar for a reason.

But I've found, through tremendous trial and error, that Kevin is a doll when asked nicely, and he's not so accomadating with demands and accusations.

So Kevin asked if I wanted to bum around the mall. No shopping necessary. Just hanging out, maybe some coffee. Still grumpy, I agreed.

We wandered into the Gap. We found Mecca.

Dear Lord, it was the Grand Prix of sales. We did amazing. Kevin found a charming pin-stripe casual blazer. Last winter it was $88. Today it was 19.99. And he looks So Fine. I found white jeans, a white zip-up jersey knit jacket, a purple tunic, and a green tee-shirt. We spent less than $60 on all of it. Plus tax. That put me in a GREAT mood.

Later, I met my girl Lena for lunch. Back from the bowels of Sweden, we had a cushy two hour lunch at Primo Grill on 6th Ave with an Adorable Waiter named....Paul, I think. We had cocktails, I had a warmed bread salad with sausage, tomato, and grilled purple onion. Lena had smoked salmon fettaccini. For dessert we shared a hazelnut brownie and panna cotta. Fab. Next Monday I'll head over to see her kids at the house.

Once home, I tackled some chores. My living room, dining room, and entry way are all sparkling. I painted the window sills. Tomorrow I'll hang the curtains. Hopefully we'll get some sunshine tomorrow, as July is not the time for clouds and rain. I don't want to lose my pathetic tan.

I'm debating my Ten Year High School Reunion. What do you think?

Because I'm not sharing my purity test results

What Classic Movie Are You?
personality tests by similarminds.com

Happiness is....

A shiney pink pedicure. My heart is sad, but my toes are cheerful

New mystery books from the library

Lena back in town

Having enough self-worth and personal dignity to handle family confict with respect and compassion (or support your husband as he does so), even as others CHOOSE the opposite

the US Postal Service

three days off work

a fresh hair dye job for $8.12 DIY

I worked today, hopefully I'll get around to writing more complete information. But tonight, after a busy 12 hour shift, you are getting a list.

1. Camping with Mom and Craig at Millersylvania. Awesome possum, and about 1 hour away. Big ol' campsites, places for puppy swimming. Boy were my girls tired. We had the best time. Mom and I decided we have a psychic connection and it's why we kick ass at Catch Phrase.
Mom: I don't know who this is, the name starts with an "A."
Me: Avril Levigne
Kevin: How the fuck did you get that?

Me: Shit, he's a painter and I can't think of the name to a single one.
Mom: Rembrant
Craig: You got that from a guy painter?

Mom: I don't know who this is? OK, two words, the last is what two words that sound alike are.
Me: Rhyme. Busta Rhymes.
Kevin: You two suck.

I tell you, psychic connection.

2. I have a 5 cm cyst on my right ovary. No, it doesn't hurt. No, it's not a tumor, it's a cyst. Yes, it can interfere with ovulation, meaning I've been ovulating every other month for God knows how long. I'll probably have to have surgery to get it removed due to the risk of ovarian torsion with one that size. To surgeries in one year. Christ.

3. Family is messy right now. Sad and Mad.

4. Lena comes home Tuesday and we are going out without her children. We need to figure out how we can both drink and not drive. Like Kevin and Shaun could come and pick up our lushy selves when we are done gossiping and talking about sex.

5. We have a great hand-me-down kitchen table. Oak pedistal with a leaf to seat eight. Love it. Thanks Jakki!

6. I really need your support. As my due date gets closer (August 19th) I find my grieving has increased. Work is more challenging, and I feel surrounded by babies and bellies. I've having a tough time of it. But presents help a lot. Or just an email. And for the record, unless you are my very bestest of friends and I have told you that I want to know the very second you are pregnant (S and C especially), I don't want to hear about it.

MariClare, quit lurking and leave a comment :)

On a happier note

After calling the fireworks hotline and reporting the punks in the park shooting bottle rockets at each other, I felt much better. So here I sit, eating a cheese and mayo sandwich with lots of pepper and drinking sweet tea (that's iced tea with sugar for you non-southern exposed souls).

Everytime I drink sweet tea I start humming, "She thinks my tractor's sexy" by Kenny Chesney. Because there is a line in it about sweet tea.

I think I'll take some leftover Vicoden and go to bed soon. I finished "Definately Dead" by Charlaine Harris already, so I need to pick a new library book to take to bed. The house is a bit...messy as hell....but I have big plans tomorrow to get it all spotless. And hopefully we'll coordinate to drop off Grace's second birthday present. It's a book. Surprise.

I am weary today. Behind the eyes/just crawl into bed/where the fuck is the chocolate weary.

Work was fine yesterday. Easy enough, loads of people got to go home, and I earned great overtime. Then I met Kevin at Milt and Lori's new house (gorgeous, huge, in the middle of fucking nowhere) for some 4th of July celebrating. I'm not the most stellar company after a 12 hour shift. Then add a 45 minute drive to a new place. But it went OK, until I opened my big mouth. And got really angry.

I showed some tact when I opened my big mouth and interfered. I whispered my observations quietly in her ear, rather than blurting it loudly like I really wanted to. The first time I tried a little stealthy tact, throwing out a "casual" observation.

Hey, it's getting pretty loud out there, is your puppy OK?

They brought their puppy to the party. Their 3-4 month old baby puppy. This puppy was in her crate OUTSIDE surrounded by ALL THE FUCKING NOISE. As most animal find fireworks very traumatic, and every year shelters get filled with runaways looking for safety, I thought this was an "interesting" choice for this puppy.

The second time, after they had briefly glanced at their dog in the kennel, I couldn't help it. I waited five minutes, then looked at the puppy myself. This baby was huddled in the crate, curled into a tight little ball, eyes wide open, shivering from fear and cold.

Now I was done and was officially going to interfere. Gladly.

I took myself upstairs where mommy and daddy were playing games with the crowd. I whispered in her ear, "Your dog is shivering in a ball in her crate. Perhaps you want to do something about that."

They did. Not wanting their party to be interupted, mommy carried this baby puppy in her arms outside to watch the constant stream of noisy fireworks. Noisy, scary fireworks. Brilliant plan.

Kevin was a champ today. Two hours of yardwork. Mowing, edging, cleaning sidewalks, front and back yard. I cooked him a yummy breakfast and gave him the rest of the day off. Although he did hang our wedding picture (so we haven't picked the perfect spot, it just took four years), all by his own self. He bought himself a new movie, "Blade: Ressurection" to go with "Underworld: Evolution." On a bit of a vampire kick. But thanks to our allowances, it's no problem.

I work two days this week, then off camping with Mom and Craig. Typical summer, we're missing Grace's (the niece) Second Birthday Party due to the earlier-scheduled camping trip. So we'll drop off a present and cupcakes this week. But I have NO IDEA what to buy for a two year old. Any ideas?

I am just having too much fun in the sunshine to be bothered with blogging. I'm the only person in Tacoma who LOVES 80 degree weather. But yestered I was quite industrious and tackled a few chores I'd been procrastinating. Did lots of filing and shreding. Bills were set up with automatic withdrawl. Kitchen curtains are hung. New picture arrived! It is also hung. Pictures are coming, I promise. Today is still gorgous. We are off to the zoo, Taste of Tacoma, and generalized bumming around.

And later, you'll hear about the acupuncturist.