thoughts from the deep recesses

Just not a lot of time for blogging. Payday today. Making a buttload of money from working so much. But I'm also having to get up at 6:00 am to get laundry folded, so it's for sure a trade off. I'm three weeks behind on Grey's Anatomy. That's how busy I am. So if I'm a little hit and miss between now and the cruise, this is why. In two weeks I'll be having a 'fun day at sea' - on my way to Grand Cayman. Won't that be nice? Happy Monday, friends. I love that you still visit, even when I'm not here.

The kids and I had dinner last night with our dear friends, the Copleys . (Hi, John! I know Asia told you not to comment because he thought it was a little bit creepy, but you go right ahead. It's my blog and I say so.) Mr. Copley is out of town this week too, so Rebecca and I decided we should get together whenever both our husbands are gone. It gives us more motivation to cook. Although Rebecca didn't cook a thing because her 12 year old made dinner and all I did was go buy a bagged caesar salad and some Chips Ahoy. Whatever. It was nice to hang out with them. Jiminy , I've got lots to do this week. I mean REALLY a lot to do. Feeling a bit of stress. I've been doing a 'Classical Stretch' workout in the mornings when I know I'm not going to have time to get up to the club... it's on PBS early in the morning. The woman who does it has a soothing, funny accent and I can really hear all my joints crackling and feel my muscles stretching when I do it. It...

I dreamt about Mr. Financial Advisor last night. Something about buying groceries and leaving some chips at his office... and his office was right next to the store where I work. Why are dreams so weird? My Mom was there and she bought a pack of cigarettes at the grocery store. My Mom would no sooner buy cigarettes than crack cocaine. Although she does buy beer occasionally for beer bread, I've heard... Our pastor was out of town yesterday, so we had a guest speaker at church. He did one of those awful 'let's take three minutes and share the love of Jesus with one another' things in the middle of his sermon. Where you're supposed to share significant tidbits from your life and express significant interest in the stranger behind you - and then pray for each other. You know what I did? I went and hid in the bathroom. If Asia would stay next to me, and pretend to be my 'stranger' then I wouldn't have to go hide. But since meeting strangers is what he thri...

Me and my Grandpa Carson circa 1975. If ever there was a little girl who knew she was loved, it was me. Just look at that face. Sheer delight. A good bit of teasing went on, as I'm sure you can see. It's written all over this photograph. And when my kids were born, it continued. He was a great Grandpa. Anyone who had a whole fridge full of Shasta pop in all the best flavors is going to rate pretty high... but he also had a 3-wheeler. And a garden. And took us fishing, even when he wasn't supposed to. On a less sentimental note, be sure you catch the double knit pantsuit I'm sporting. Sweet . Happy Friday, friends.

With a very scientific, random process ("Hey, K. - pick a number between 1 and 17!" "Why?" "Because I told you to!" "Okay, um, nine.") a winner has been chosen. And it's Kelly! Congratulations, friend. Look for a package early next week. Yay!

I tried to find a video that had a better version of the beginning part of the chicken dance ... the room was so dark during the opening, and while they were backlit and looked awesome in person, it didn't pick up too well on the video. Nevertheless, you can get the general idea of how the performance went. Now - prepare yourself for some high entertainment... Are you ready? Enjoy!

I've got to get to cleaning... we're hosting bible study tonight and there are several things I need to do before the crowds arrive. Mainly the floors. We all know how much I hate mopping and vacuuming. I seriously need a housekeeper. Just once a week to do the floors... wouldn't that be lovely? I can't mop just yet though, because I spilled some dog food on the floor as I was emptying the last shipment into our dog food bin and I'm waiting for Gracie to finish eating it. I know - I could sweep it up. But this gives me time to blog while she eats. Silly me. This is some of the best procrastinating I've done all week. I'm proud of myself today. I met with a financial planner about opening up an individual Roth IRA. Asia and I have other accounts, but I want to do something myself... something with my own money. I want to get to retirement age and be able to say "this is something I did all by myself." Silly, maybe. But important to me. I have to tel...

I measured K. yesterday, just out of curiosity . He's grown an inch and a half since February. Three inches since the beginning of the school year. He is now 5'6". Somebody stop this kid from growing! He'll pass me up by the end of the year at this rate... I had a good little chat with Asia's little brother this morning via Messenger. He's such a great guy. 30 years old, single, cute as all get out... We get to see him when we're in Florida pre and post-cruise. Can't wait. I really like butter. Been thinking a lot about my husband the last couple days after a lively discussion about marriage with some good internet friends recently. I am so thankful for him. And for the relationship we have. I am SO blessed. So so sad for all the families who lost loved ones in Virginia. I cannot fathom the scope of what this one disturbed person did. Why take so many others with you? I just don't get it. It's free cone day at Ben and Jerry's. I think I...

Laundry's started. Walked the dog - a nice l-o-n-g walk... Up early-early to take Asia to the airport... he's in Vancouver this week. He's been home for several weeks, so he was looking forward to being back on the road, doing the part of his job he really loves. When he's home he does a lot of busy, office work. Not his favorite thing. Good weekend - lots of work on Saturday, a demo and a class, then Sunday lunch with girlfriends and coffee later with another girlfriend. Good stuff. Can't complain. Volunteering at school later today - the PE bike unit. Sixty 4th graders on bikes. WOW! That'll be interesting. Ebay auctions ending today... making lots of money for the cruise on scrapbooking stuff I'll never use. Love that! Joined Netflix. Just the cheap $4.99 2-movies-a-month membership. We figured that's all we have time to watch - and it's cheaper than pay-per-view or the video store. Love the whole 'delivered to your door and no late fee' ...

Could we with ink the ocean fill And were the skies of parchment made Were every stalk on earth a quill And every man a scribe by trade To write the love of God above Would drain the ocean dry Nor could the scroll contain the whole Though stretched from sky to sky -F. Lehman Blessings, friends.

I took S. and her best little girlfriend down to the park last weekend to get some pictures. I find that I can never have enough pictures for class samples, so it was a good time to get some fun shots. These are my favorites... Good girls, these two. They remind me very much of Corey and I at that age... sweet.

Any kitchen over 300 square feet should really come with it's own maid. Munchies, anyone? I feel like all I want to do is eat lately. And there's plenty of Easter candy lying around . Not good when I leave for the cruise in just over a month. Gotta fit in those dresses... Today is that magical day in spring when I first saw leaf buds on the trees. This is always a special day. Because in a week, they'll have burst forth in complete green layers... I love the transformation of spring. Gracie's food is very expensive. But it's also manufactured by a teeny tiny family-run company - which equals no imported Chinese rat poisoned wheat products in her food. Worth every penny. I'm working more now, since the other part-time employee at the store moved on to a different job. I'll be filling in here and there whenever Kathy needs me... more hours = more $$$, but also more stress and more need for good time management. Not sleeping well lately. Hate that. 46 days left...

"Love Jesus forever! He is the Lord! You should love him because I do He is my Savior"

The kids and I got home last night. I'm working today, so there's little time to post. Little time to unpack. But it's good to be home. We had an uneventful trip home. Lots of movies in the car - thank goodness for a power converter for the laptop. That's a lifesaver. I decided to go to the reunion. Sent my check in - so now that I've spent the money, I'm going. Discovered a myspace page for our class... and have had fun seeing pictures of a few of my old friends. Funny how old they all look. Well, except for one friend - she looks fabulous. But she was a dancer, so that doesn't count. Dancers have that lithe thing going for them. I always wanted to be lithe. I've got more pictures to post from our week in Astoria... maybe I'll get them up tomorrow... too busy today with work and a show opening for an artist friend tonight... that'll be nice. I'll do anything for free appetizers. Cheers, friends. Have a lovely weekend.

Lovin' the Oregon coast... always feels like home, no matter how long it's been since I lived here. Lovin' hanging with my folks. Lovin' our week...

I've been tagged by my lovely friend Debbie, who doesn't blog, but rather sent me an email with all these questions. I love talking about myself, so I'm always up for a list of questions... Here goes! 1. What time is it? 6:20 p.m. 2. Name (include any nicknames): Cathy. Cate. Catherine. Cath. Cat. Honey. Mom. Ugly (compliments of my terribly mean big brother, Steve.) 3. What are you most afraid of? Getting Alzheimers. 4. What do you drive? A seven passenger Chevy Trailblazer. 5. Have you ever seen a ghost? No. 6. Where were you born? St. Mary's Hospital, Astoria, Oregon. 7. Ever been to Alaska ? No. 8. Ever been toilet papering, or rolling in decorating trees? Why would you roll in decorating trees? Does anyone know what that means? I've been toilet papering oodles of times. I consider myself a bit of a 'middle of the night sneaky things' expert, but that's another post for another day. 9. Croutons or bacon bits? Croutons. I think those fake bacon bits t...