{11.30.05}

brotherly love

I’m tired and have a gigantic headache this morning. Last night I had a few cosmos while talking to my brother on the phone for two hours. I love my brother; we can talk about anything and everything. We fought like cats and dogs growing up, but regardless of how many times we wanted to kill each other, we always stuck by each other…always! He was and will always be my protector and confidant. Out of respect for my family, I won’t divulge too much information, but my bro is going through a painful divorce and it’s breaking my heart to hear the pain in his voice. I love him so much and wish we didn’t live 300 miles apart so I could give him a hug and tell him everything is going to be ok.

On a positive note, I think the wart on my foot that Adam froze off is finally going to fall off! Hey, it's the small things in life that bring me joy and happiness.

{11.29.05}

christmas-ness

Last night was super productive and fun. After cleaning the office last night Brenner, Adam and I decorated my place, tree and all. Yes, I have a fake tree, but try to understand that I have a Honda Civic and I can't very well jaunt outdoors to get a real one. Anyway, I was so excited to run downstairs this morning to turn on all the sparkly lights. Oh but the bareness under the tree…what a sad, sad sight. I'll try to wrap and find some decent looking recycled bows from last year (stop laughing Mother) while Brenner naps this weekend.

Ok, you will think I’m odd (well more odd) but I found and won on eBay my most cherished childhood Christmas toy I received when I was six. To this day when I smell anything lemon or berry, my mind immediately goes back to that Christmas Eve. If you know me well, you will know that I’m talking about my Lemon Meringue Shortcake doll.

***

christmas staff photo

{11.28.05}

moving news

It’s Monday, the day Adam leaves for Seattle on business for two days. Maybe I'll get my place all decorated and festive while he’s gone to keep my mind off missing him.

I have a few details to work out but I think I’m moving in February. It seems that the penthouse apartment with great windows and an incredible view in Canyon Rim will work out after all. I’m getting excited about the move and already mapped out where everything will go in all 500 square feet! The townhouse I’m in now is 1100 square feet so I will have some serious adjusting and organizing to do. Here’s a picture of my living room now. Later, I'll post one of the new place for comparison.

{11.27.05}

contemplating

I’m sitting at my desk wondering if I should clean the office knowing that tomorrow we will decorate for Christmas and make a complete mess…hmm, I think I’ll wait until tomorrow.

Thanksgiving day and dinner was great. My mom and aunt made so much food it was impossible to fit everything on my plate…which made going back for seconds more excusable. After dinner we played Balderdash and Cranium, followed by pie…three different nummy pies. Brenner was a dishwashing champ and seemed disappointed when they were all done. Yep, he’s a keeper!

Friday afternoon, Adam and I finished our Christmas shopping in Bend. It’s a great feeling knowing that I will enjoy the holiday season without that panic hurry feeling. Instead, I will have time to bake and decorate more this year.

Saturday was the day of our “Holiday” parade, and to be honest, I don’t remember much of it because of the freezing temperature.  My fingers and toes remain froze and it was by far the coldest three hours of my life. Afterwards, we all met at 7th Street for drinks to warm up.

{11.25.05}

thanksgiving dinner

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

{11.22.05}

as life's plan unfolds

we come to realize that what is important is our relationships – with our family, our friends and the divine. My wish is that you use these gifts for every occasion – to enhance relationships, to say I love you, or just as an acknowledgment that the bonds we form are as everlasting as the spirit.  Happy Thanksgiving!

***

Jen just emailed me a picture of her baby, Tank – check him out!

{11.21.05}

proposition

I just had an interesting lunch break. I was picking up an alteration from the cleaners and was offered a bookkeeping job from the owner…an evening after work type thing. It’s tempting but I’m really trying to keep my life as simple as possible. I see so many people around me that complicate their lives with meaningless interests or tasks that really only preoccupy themselves from their unhappiness. Jeepers, I wonder where that came from? Perhaps from my own past experiences and convictions…hmm.

"Never give in! Never give in! Never, never, never. Never -- in anything great or small, large or petty -- never give in except to convictions of honor and good sense." ~ Sir Winston Churchill

 

{11.20.05}

weekend update

Seriously, where did the weekend go? I know it's still Sunday, but it feels like I should have another morning to sleep in...oh Monday mornings, how I dread them!

Saturday morning I woke at 6:30am...why, I don't really know. Brenner was at his Dad's house for the weekend so I thought I could sleep in, but oh no! So I headed out my door around 8am to clean the office before meeting Jen for breakfast. We had a great talk about love, life and other unmentionable chitchat. She's always good about putting things in perspective! After breakfast, Adam and I conquered our Christmas shopping in Bend. We had a great time and nearly completed all our shopping. It's a great feeling to have everything nearly purchased before the holiday craziness sets in. Once upon a time I would have all my gifts bought and wrapped by the first of November...what ever happened to that? We drove out to John and Amy's for dinner and a fun game of Cranium...and yes, we remain champions!

Sunday was just as crazy. I got up pretty early and decided to run my 3 miles in the freezing fog...it was pretty cold but soooo gratifying. In the afternoon, Adam and I finished our shopping for Thanksgiving, which will be at my Aunt and Uncle's this year. Mom and Dad will be coming and Eric, Adam's brother too. Adam is making his family tradition dish, pork pie. I've never had, so it will be fun to bring another family tradition to ours. I love the Holidays, my Mom baking and cooking, my Dad in his chair watching football...oh love love them. Anyway, we had Lauren and Nathan over for dinner tonight...Adam did all the scrumptious cooking and even made dessert, yummy!

{11.18.05}

clarity

A moment of clarity has to be the most satisfying feeling to have. I recently had one oddly enough in the store the other night with Brenner. Strange when and where that can happen...

Today was busy but productive. After two hours of training I’m now Oregon Q Certified…don’t ask, it’s boring and unimportant to anyone that has a life. It’s good for my portfolio so I guess it was time well spent doodling on my notepad and pretending to pay attention.

Also, it’s a good day because my Aunt is on new medication that is making her feel better and allowing her to do things she hasn’t done in a long time!

I hope everyone has a stupendous weekend…loves to all.

{11.17.05}

a typical day

I'm experiencing a cooking block lately, you know when you have no idea what to fix for dinner and nothing sounds good. This is annoying to Adam I’m sure, but thankfully Brenner doesn’t care because he has three things he loves and never gets tired of; avocados, anything pasta, and jelly sandwiches - just jelly - no peanut butter – weirdo! Anyway, I should cruz the Internet for some yummy but EASY recipes and plan my meals on weekends. The last thing I want to do after working eight hours everyday in the public is go to the store and inevitably run into someone I know from work and feel the need to keep my professional hat on. That’s the beauty of shopping at 9pm when normal people are home and enjoying their evenings. Oh, to have the luxury of shopping, planning and doing things during the day…must be nice.

Here is a typical day for me… I get up around 6ish, start coffee, get Brenner’s chocolate milk, which is really Ovaltine but he doesn’t know, pop a cartoon in the DVD (no cable for this girl), shower, start or fold a load of laundry, make the beds, make breakfast, do the dishes, get Brenner in the shower and dressed, pack-up his backpack with a show-and-tell toy and a snack that he doesn’t need because daycare provides them, but thinks it’s “cool”, check my straightening iron and coffee pot several (more like 5) times to make sure they are turned off, drop Brenner off at daycare around 7:45ish and kiss him a million times until he tells me to stop and runs off to play, cry inside, crank my music to prepare for the day, stop for coffee at Starbucks if time allows, work, run on my lunch hour, work, try to find something to eat, pick Brenner up around 5ish, listen to him describe his whole day on the ride home, get his snack made, try to pretend that I’m interested and excited to make dinner, make dinner, do the dishes, play Go Fish a million times, help him with his preschool workbook, go through my fantastic junk mail, read some books, pray with Brenner and thank God for giving him to me, collapse on my loveseat, turn on my TV and try to find something that comes in clear, flip through my Marie Claire magazine that is 3 months old, return any missed calls, do some more cleaning and laundry before bed and wonder how I’m going to do this all over again the next day.

Wow, what a random journal entry…back to work…yay for me.

{11.15.05}

silence

Aww… the silence of an office is a wonderful thing and I miss it very much. I prolly just jinxed myself and the phones will begin to ring off the hook with people asking annoying random questions like, “What is the local time?” or “What day in the week is the 26th, the day of your parade?” or my personal favorite, “When do the deer around here turn into elk?” Two words people…DISCOVERY CHANNEL. Jeesh!!!! I can’t wait for Heather and our new victim, Jamie to start full-time. I just don’t have the time or the patience to deal with people that have no appreciation for phonebooks, Internet, newspapers or directory assistance.

Ok, I best stop my complaining and get back to work…I think I need another mocha, yes another mocha. 

Note to self: must purchase new running pants…I think I showed too much on my run today!

{11.14.05}

mocha goodness

It’s just Eric and I in the office this week…yikes. I seriously contemplated even getting out of bed this morning…oh so peaceful and warm. I have my yummy white chocolate mocha from Starbucks and the day is looking a little brighter now:-)

Yesterday, I had the flu…the all day in bed, can’t get up or I’d fall over kind of flu. I was so bummed because I had free tickets to the truck show that Brenner was looking forward to for weeks. Thankful, Adam, my awesome boyfriend was able to take him. They came home with sticky cotton candy cheeks and smelling like diesel fuel. After some good Chinese food and a great episode of Desperate Housewives I went back to bed.

Ok, so after relentless pestering from John suggesting that I have “the eye” for photography and that my photos could use some help, I’m going to sit down with him and learn Photoshop. Apparently, I also need to purchase the new D200…what’s wrong with my sleek and reliable Canon? Aww.

{11.12.05}

expectations

I live and love life passionately, usually without fail. But last night as I sat alone with my thoughts, I found myself questioning my expectations and passion for life. Do I expect too much or too little? Does one ask this question only after continued disappointment and hurt?

{11.11.05}

molly's last day

It’s Molly’s last day, therefore, it’s a sad day. We had a fun day “trying” to be productive. Ha, mission impossible. Between members coming in to say their goodbyes, John taking goofy pictures of us, which better not show up in the Redmond Spokesman, and the many trips to the cake table to reminisce over good times...we didn't get very much work accomplished.

That's our Molly - photo by J.B.

{11.10.05}

jenny

Wow…two days without blogging! It’s been super crazy at work with Molly leaving, training the newbee and Heather on maternity leave. I feel an ulcer coming on strong. It’s been an insane week and I’m looking forward to the weekend with my boys. Adam and I plan to take Brenner to the Monster Truck show on Sunday, which reminds me to put ear plugs on my list.

Speaking of lists, I have a list for everything these days – my desk looks like a post-it war zone. Oh my goodness, I love my job…my favorite coffee shop in town just brought in free coffee - oh the many perks I get for working with the community. Ok, back to work and planning Molly's going away party.  This one is just for you Mol...Ha ha...I'll miss you girl!

"Jenny"

{11.6.05}

thankful

Yesterday morning was Brenner’s last soccer game and the weather could not have been worse. It was raining/hailing/snowing and blowing sideways all at the same time. My umbrella, that I thought was such a good bargain at the time of purchase, failed miserably. So you would think that we would have cancelled the game and party afterwards because of this frightful weather…but oh NO, we endured the elements and had the party. It just shows, no matter how cold and wet it is, kids love SUGAR! After the game, Adam and I rented movies, planted our lazy buns comfortably on his couch until dinner. It was the best Saturday I've had in a long time.

Today is a good day. I’m in love with a man who loves me unconditionally, my parents and family that support me no matter what, my son, his incredible tender heart makes all the badness in my world melt away with one smile or look…oh the power of unconditional love. And I can’t forget all my steadfast friends; I treasure and love you all.

btw...I've lost 3 more lbs...prolly from stress tho:-)

The Dynamic Duo...go Blue Thunders!

{11.2.05}

mismatched

On my way to Starbucks this morning for my daily addiction fix, I noticed not one but two different shoes (not matching) along side of the road about 50 feet apart. What are the odds of seeing this? I know it’s a random thought, but seriously! I sure hope they find their mates and live happily ever after.

On a serious note, I almost broke down in tears this morning while talking to Molly about her leaving! She’s been a great friend and has seen me through some good and bad times and without a doubt, always gave me the best advice. I will miss her immensely.

Ok, I better get back to work. I’m hoping the weather holds out so I can run outside today. The treadmill was so boring yesterday. Hmm, maybe I should put a tropical picture of some sort above my treadmill, so when I run I  can imagine myself there drinking some blue girlie drink and soaking up the sun.  Geesh, I need a tropical vacation soon.

{11.1.05}

batman

Brenner had a blast last night and really got into the whole Halloween shebang this year. He picked out his costume all by himself and played the part of Batman perfectly in front of everybody! Hope you all had a fun and safe evening.