March of Dimes tomorrow. So far I have $75.00 in donations. Exactly half of my goal. Oh well, better than $0! It's Friday, and it's payday!
I'm annoying myself today. I'm having these old traits I don't like, like butting in on other peoples conversations and boasting. I think it's time to turn on the old RIO and work on the last half of volume four of Mr. Norell and Jonathan Strange. Awesome book. This weekend I want to rent Zoolander again. Haven't seen it since it first came out, and I really loved that one. Maybe we'll have and Owen Wilson fest and watch Shanghi Noon again too. Jackie Chan is awesome. We watched 'Meet the Fockers' last night. It was a fun movie; Streisand and Hoffman were awesome, DeNiro gave me the creeps, and I don't really like Stiller in this roll.
I went to transfer funds for half of May rent online, and system slowness coupled with incorrect error message caused me to transfer double. Hmm. Not good.
Rubber band ball update: The exact size of a baseball...I think.
Word(s) of the day: WHITE LIGHT
Lexie log: She sure does love to dance! We danced the closing credits music for Jimmy Neutron last night. She loves to learn new moves. I've taught her to touch her fingertips over her head and spin around like a ballerina. She tries to imitate any new move you show her, but doesn't quite have command or mental understanding of body parts, so moves that involve multiple joints (like the chicken wings flapping) don't work so well for her yet. -- I hope the weather tomorrow is decent. I'm going to try to bring the video and photo camera. -- The whole week she has gone to bed on schedule. It's really great. She still sleeps mostly with us, but she won't want to forever. She ate every last bite of dinner last night and is learning to drink out of a trainer cup now.
Today I'm grateful for Frank and Lexie, phones, rubber balls, calculators, staples, provisions, and facial muscles.
Friday, April 29, 2005
Thursday, April 28, 2005
Motion in the ocean, His air hose broke...Lots of trouble, Lots of bubbles, He was in a jam, S'in a giant clam!
People in glass houses, should not throw bricks. It's 12:30pm and I am tired of working. Lead by example?!? I'm mean I probably goof off more than my share, and I'm no workaholic, but REALLY! Forget the projects, issues, and employee reviews that are all over due... I think I'll go home now and clean my fish tank, go to the store and pick up some cheese, go to the gym and run for an hour, come back to work, chat for a while, then clock out and call it a day. How does that sound? I'm done with my bitter sarcasm for now. Thanks for letting me share.
Word(s) of the day: FILIBUSTER
Lexie log: I wonder how she is going to be about getting up so early Saturday for the March of Dimes walk. I expect it should turn out to be a blast not matter. I'm not sure we'll make the entire course though. We shall see. Looks like we may pick up Jan on the way in so she doesn't have to ride the Max that early. There was a decent lightning storm last night that Lexie missed every last bit of because she was eating her dinner. Next time. She eats sooooo slow and there is no way I want to rush her. It's an excellent habit that I don't want to ruin. She does already finish on part of her meal at time though. Last night it was the chicken, then the pasta, then the corn. I'm the opposite. I eat the vegetable, then any side, then the main course. I save the tastiest (to me) for last, and she gets right down to business. I think I'll start using her technique, It's probably healthier. When I got off the phone with Daddy at lunch. He said she was tearing up the house, which actually means she's attempts to put everything she owns on the living room floor. If it's nice out again this evening maybe she can continue her current yard project. She pulls up every dandelion wish and shakes all the seeds off, which of course creates new dandelions for her to eventually pull.
Today I'm grateful for Frank and Lexie, movies, toes, pillows, forks, mirrors, laughter, and happiness.
Word(s) of the day: FILIBUSTER
Lexie log: I wonder how she is going to be about getting up so early Saturday for the March of Dimes walk. I expect it should turn out to be a blast not matter. I'm not sure we'll make the entire course though. We shall see. Looks like we may pick up Jan on the way in so she doesn't have to ride the Max that early. There was a decent lightning storm last night that Lexie missed every last bit of because she was eating her dinner. Next time. She eats sooooo slow and there is no way I want to rush her. It's an excellent habit that I don't want to ruin. She does already finish on part of her meal at time though. Last night it was the chicken, then the pasta, then the corn. I'm the opposite. I eat the vegetable, then any side, then the main course. I save the tastiest (to me) for last, and she gets right down to business. I think I'll start using her technique, It's probably healthier. When I got off the phone with Daddy at lunch. He said she was tearing up the house, which actually means she's attempts to put everything she owns on the living room floor. If it's nice out again this evening maybe she can continue her current yard project. She pulls up every dandelion wish and shakes all the seeds off, which of course creates new dandelions for her to eventually pull.
Today I'm grateful for Frank and Lexie, movies, toes, pillows, forks, mirrors, laughter, and happiness.
Wednesday, April 27, 2005
Jimmy crack corn, and I don't care.
Work did not start out as smoothly as I'd like. Yesterday BJH asked me to tailor a report I had previously created for the clinic to a specific doctor. It took the rest of the day to run the four reports to compile the data, and I was going to finish it this morning. When I went to open it, I got the message that it was opened on her machine and I could view it read only, or notify. Why this bristled my fur, I'm not sure.
Now we are having seatbelt talk. Someone here in the office actually still doesn't wear a seatbelt and we are giving her a bad time about it.
I bet when management walks around the office they feel like they're leading 'the wave' for a bleacher full of football fans. It seems to me that as they walk by, we all turn back around to face our desks in unison. I've noticed it a lot today, and it's kind of humorous.
Yesterday the clinic gave out organizer/planners with calculators and cell phone holders to the non-medical clinic staff in honor of 'Employee appreciation day', or Secrataries day as it was created in 1952 by Harry Klemfuss.
I've never heard this piece of history: Disco days goldfish in platform shoes? Literally? Drilling a hole in the heel and putting water and a goldfish in for a night of dancing? Is this urban legened? Eeewww!
Guess what! The music to 'Twinkle Twinkle Little Star' and the 'ABC song' are the same! I would have thought that everyone already figured this out, but my cubies didn't know, so others out there in the world must also be unawares. Sing along with me now..."Twinkle twinkle little star, H-I-J-K-L-M-N-O-P, Up above the world so high, W-X-Y and Z, Twinkle twinkle little star, Next time won't you sing with me!"
That was fun.
Word(s) of the day: OSMOSIS
I am so excited that Grammy got a Neopet! Why? I don't know, something to share I guess.
Lexie log: The Pink Puppy saga continues. Lexie aquired a tiny puppy from a Happy Meal. She is enamoured of it, and I keep having to reasure Daddy that it is temporary and Pink Puppy will prevail. Last night we ran around the back yard until the sun went down. I tried very hard to teach her how to get a cat to chase after an old bathrobe tie, but as soon as any of our cats started after, she would run up to them yelling, "BAAAA!" I kept trying to explain to her this isn't how it worked, but she wasn't going for it. We finally had to quit when she felt like I was scolding her for having fun chasing the cats. Someday... She will eventually have a blast with this, as I do, but she will probably have to learn by watching for a while. There's nothing better than a heard of cats racing around the yard after you, leaping in the air after some old toy or rope. -- New movies she's checking out; 'Jimmy Neutron - Boy Genius', and Veggie Tales episodes. -- It's getting warmer, almost time for the inflatable pool.
Today I'm grateful for, Frank and Lexie, our house and yard, Grammy and GranDad, Gramma Betty, time with family, my secretary, and life.
Now we are having seatbelt talk. Someone here in the office actually still doesn't wear a seatbelt and we are giving her a bad time about it.
I bet when management walks around the office they feel like they're leading 'the wave' for a bleacher full of football fans. It seems to me that as they walk by, we all turn back around to face our desks in unison. I've noticed it a lot today, and it's kind of humorous.
Yesterday the clinic gave out organizer/planners with calculators and cell phone holders to the non-medical clinic staff in honor of 'Employee appreciation day', or Secrataries day as it was created in 1952 by Harry Klemfuss.
I've never heard this piece of history: Disco days goldfish in platform shoes? Literally? Drilling a hole in the heel and putting water and a goldfish in for a night of dancing? Is this urban legened? Eeewww!
Guess what! The music to 'Twinkle Twinkle Little Star' and the 'ABC song' are the same! I would have thought that everyone already figured this out, but my cubies didn't know, so others out there in the world must also be unawares. Sing along with me now..."Twinkle twinkle little star, H-I-J-K-L-M-N-O-P, Up above the world so high, W-X-Y and Z, Twinkle twinkle little star, Next time won't you sing with me!"
That was fun.
Word(s) of the day: OSMOSIS
I am so excited that Grammy got a Neopet! Why? I don't know, something to share I guess.
Lexie log: The Pink Puppy saga continues. Lexie aquired a tiny puppy from a Happy Meal. She is enamoured of it, and I keep having to reasure Daddy that it is temporary and Pink Puppy will prevail. Last night we ran around the back yard until the sun went down. I tried very hard to teach her how to get a cat to chase after an old bathrobe tie, but as soon as any of our cats started after, she would run up to them yelling, "BAAAA!" I kept trying to explain to her this isn't how it worked, but she wasn't going for it. We finally had to quit when she felt like I was scolding her for having fun chasing the cats. Someday... She will eventually have a blast with this, as I do, but she will probably have to learn by watching for a while. There's nothing better than a heard of cats racing around the yard after you, leaping in the air after some old toy or rope. -- New movies she's checking out; 'Jimmy Neutron - Boy Genius', and Veggie Tales episodes. -- It's getting warmer, almost time for the inflatable pool.
Today I'm grateful for, Frank and Lexie, our house and yard, Grammy and GranDad, Gramma Betty, time with family, my secretary, and life.
Tuesday, April 26, 2005
Do the Hustle!
Mmmm! Stoufer's lasagna leftovers for lunch. Nummy. Today, a group of us turned in a proposal for a staff evaluation of supervisor form I found on the Internet. Modified it a bit, put a cover letter/note with it, and stuck in the comments box. There are a few people here not at all pleased with the performance of our current manager and cite multiple negative management traits. I agree with each complaint, however, I have become one of those awful people who don't wish the person responsible for rocking any boats. I do believe that I have actually been able to ignore what doesn't directly affect me...For the most part. Unfortunately, it seems to be directly affecting co-workers who are being scrutinized for what they do/don't do while it completely appears that she does less than anyone here. Should be interesting to see if this new suggestion bares any fruit, since previous attempt to draw attention to her work ethics appear to have failed.
Word(s) of the day: OOSTA
Lexie log: Well, yesterday's visit to the office wasn't all that I had hoped, but it was still neat. She was tired, as usual in the afternoon. She was pretty excited to run across Mommy at work, downstairs in the lobby, but persuading her to go upstairs was difficult. Getting her to go in the cube was next to impossible. She had to be bribed with candy. She was very shy, and actually screamed. I was very nervous and excited, got to warm and uncomfortable. I would have loved nothing more than to have her come sit on my knee and chat, and do her cute Lexie talk with TT and Carrie, but that was not on her agenda for the day. She did scoot down the entire steps on her bottom, which I think she had fun with. She also made a b-line for the computer/switch room in the conference room. Basically, she wanted to keep moving on a forward path. Didn't want to stop to talk or look around, just keep moving forward. It's amazing to me how much she just loves to walk. She fell asleep for a few minutes on the ride home with Grammy and Daddy. Mommy went off to the gym. Daddy is perceptibly jealous at the stuffed dog Carrie gave to Lexie to mollify her during her visit. He is concerned that she replace Pink Puppy with it as her favorite. That's just not happening! The body of him is formed to her hand. She can't take a bath without him. If she doesn't know where he is, she goes around the house calling out, "Puppy? Puppy! Puppy?" No worries about replacement there. It was another two bath day and she wanted to watch the movie 'Garfield' over and over. There was no trouble going to bed though. -- We are going to try to go to OMSI next weekend.
Today I'm grateful for Frank and Lexie, left over lasagna, stretches, kids songs, sunshine, shoes, and reflections.
Word(s) of the day: OOSTA
Lexie log: Well, yesterday's visit to the office wasn't all that I had hoped, but it was still neat. She was tired, as usual in the afternoon. She was pretty excited to run across Mommy at work, downstairs in the lobby, but persuading her to go upstairs was difficult. Getting her to go in the cube was next to impossible. She had to be bribed with candy. She was very shy, and actually screamed. I was very nervous and excited, got to warm and uncomfortable. I would have loved nothing more than to have her come sit on my knee and chat, and do her cute Lexie talk with TT and Carrie, but that was not on her agenda for the day. She did scoot down the entire steps on her bottom, which I think she had fun with. She also made a b-line for the computer/switch room in the conference room. Basically, she wanted to keep moving on a forward path. Didn't want to stop to talk or look around, just keep moving forward. It's amazing to me how much she just loves to walk. She fell asleep for a few minutes on the ride home with Grammy and Daddy. Mommy went off to the gym. Daddy is perceptibly jealous at the stuffed dog Carrie gave to Lexie to mollify her during her visit. He is concerned that she replace Pink Puppy with it as her favorite. That's just not happening! The body of him is formed to her hand. She can't take a bath without him. If she doesn't know where he is, she goes around the house calling out, "Puppy? Puppy! Puppy?" No worries about replacement there. It was another two bath day and she wanted to watch the movie 'Garfield' over and over. There was no trouble going to bed though. -- We are going to try to go to OMSI next weekend.
Today I'm grateful for Frank and Lexie, left over lasagna, stretches, kids songs, sunshine, shoes, and reflections.
Monday, April 25, 2005
The wheels on the bus go round and round...
All through the town. I just brought in a CD I made up for Carrie's son Jason, and decided to play some samples for TT and KC. Thought it would be funny to play, 'Wheels on the Bus', since she had a time where it was constantly stuck in her head. KC has some moods and I should have known better. Boy did I get the stink eye! I wonder how long it will be this time before she acknowledges my existence again.
Please visit this link.
I'm sure it will expire by next week, so years down the road it won't do a thing to try it, but for now anyway... I signed up really late, so I probably won't even get a donation. This is the March of Dimes walk that Lexie's enlarged photo will be in. Marylue just showed it to me. It's laminated and huge, and we get to keep it when the walk is done. Frank, a.k.a Daddy, was a premature baby. Lexie, on the other hand, was actually a couple days late for her due date, so it's a little odd for her to be the poster child for this cause... But she representing for Daddy.
I'm not sure why this bugs me but: It's clear to me that there are some office politics going on. I just went over to take a picture of the March of Dimes baby photo contest board and notices that Lexie's has a blue ribbon that says #1 Winner, but there are three or four runner ups for most photogenic and best smile, etc. Someone else told me maybe it is because they don't want to step on any doctors toes, they are doctors children, except two who are patients. I'm going to stop here, however, since I am being petty.
Geeze, what side of the bed did I wake up on this morning?
I squashed Frank's fingers in the automatic window of our car yesterday. Yikes! I felt really awful about it, but his reaction to it was so dramatic, and I felt so bad about it, that I almost totally ignored it. It was some weird circle of shame blame. He thought I might be ignoring him because I was pissed at his comment on the tire rubbing the curb, and I thought he was over-reacting to make me feel bad. Not one of our better moments. Luckily we were transported back to adolescence only temporarily though.
I've been informed that I am 'delayed' today. I seem to be a couple seconds, or moments, behind absolutely everything and everyone else. Kind of like a deer in headlights. Luckily, this hasn't been too painful, a little humorous, in fact.
Word(s) of the day: STOPPAGE, IMPEDIMENT
Lexie log: She's coming in today with Grammy and Daddy! Yipee! I'm so glad it's at the end of the day so I don't have to work after wards, it would be too hard. -- This weekend we lounged for the most part. It was very rainy, so our kite flying plans were scrapped. Saturday Daddy let me sleep in till almost noon and brought me breakfast in bed. Lexie got up at 7:12am and didn't take a nap until 4:00pm. She was viscious tired and cranky by then. We went to get Daddy a hair cut and thought she would fall asleep on the way there and I would listen to my book, while she slept and Daddy was getting a haircut to go (Funny Dad!). She refused to fall asleep, as usual. We walked to the coffee shop where we got her a chocolate milk (sugar? why? am I nuts?) and myself a mocha. She did very well with the coffee cup with the lid and straw, for a while anyway. When Daddy was done, we went back into the coffee shop to show him the fish tank Lexie liked to look at, and she dumped her chocolate milk over the just mopped floor. She had a total fit, and since my cup looked like hers, she wanted my coffee. Wow, this was a battle, all the way to Albertson's where I stood in the ailse while Daddy bought a sippy cup and strawberry milk to replace it. She kept freaking out and trying to get my coffee. There was absolutely no consoling her, and no reprimanding either. It was just difficult. Finally she calmed down and we did the shopping with a happy, and oh so sleepy, child. Of course, the moment we got back in the car to go home she conked out and slept until 6:00. Sunday we went to Gramma Betty's house. Another short weekend, and I'm already planning the next one.
Today I'm grateful for Frank and Lexie, coffee, weekends, attitude adjustments, deep breathes, 24 hour fitness, rain, babies, and other stuff.
Please visit this link.
I'm sure it will expire by next week, so years down the road it won't do a thing to try it, but for now anyway... I signed up really late, so I probably won't even get a donation. This is the March of Dimes walk that Lexie's enlarged photo will be in. Marylue just showed it to me. It's laminated and huge, and we get to keep it when the walk is done. Frank, a.k.a Daddy, was a premature baby. Lexie, on the other hand, was actually a couple days late for her due date, so it's a little odd for her to be the poster child for this cause... But she representing for Daddy.
I'm not sure why this bugs me but: It's clear to me that there are some office politics going on. I just went over to take a picture of the March of Dimes baby photo contest board and notices that Lexie's has a blue ribbon that says #1 Winner, but there are three or four runner ups for most photogenic and best smile, etc. Someone else told me maybe it is because they don't want to step on any doctors toes, they are doctors children, except two who are patients. I'm going to stop here, however, since I am being petty.
Geeze, what side of the bed did I wake up on this morning?
I squashed Frank's fingers in the automatic window of our car yesterday. Yikes! I felt really awful about it, but his reaction to it was so dramatic, and I felt so bad about it, that I almost totally ignored it. It was some weird circle of shame blame. He thought I might be ignoring him because I was pissed at his comment on the tire rubbing the curb, and I thought he was over-reacting to make me feel bad. Not one of our better moments. Luckily we were transported back to adolescence only temporarily though.
I've been informed that I am 'delayed' today. I seem to be a couple seconds, or moments, behind absolutely everything and everyone else. Kind of like a deer in headlights. Luckily, this hasn't been too painful, a little humorous, in fact.
Word(s) of the day: STOPPAGE, IMPEDIMENT
Lexie log: She's coming in today with Grammy and Daddy! Yipee! I'm so glad it's at the end of the day so I don't have to work after wards, it would be too hard. -- This weekend we lounged for the most part. It was very rainy, so our kite flying plans were scrapped. Saturday Daddy let me sleep in till almost noon and brought me breakfast in bed. Lexie got up at 7:12am and didn't take a nap until 4:00pm. She was viscious tired and cranky by then. We went to get Daddy a hair cut and thought she would fall asleep on the way there and I would listen to my book, while she slept and Daddy was getting a haircut to go (Funny Dad!). She refused to fall asleep, as usual. We walked to the coffee shop where we got her a chocolate milk (sugar? why? am I nuts?) and myself a mocha. She did very well with the coffee cup with the lid and straw, for a while anyway. When Daddy was done, we went back into the coffee shop to show him the fish tank Lexie liked to look at, and she dumped her chocolate milk over the just mopped floor. She had a total fit, and since my cup looked like hers, she wanted my coffee. Wow, this was a battle, all the way to Albertson's where I stood in the ailse while Daddy bought a sippy cup and strawberry milk to replace it. She kept freaking out and trying to get my coffee. There was absolutely no consoling her, and no reprimanding either. It was just difficult. Finally she calmed down and we did the shopping with a happy, and oh so sleepy, child. Of course, the moment we got back in the car to go home she conked out and slept until 6:00. Sunday we went to Gramma Betty's house. Another short weekend, and I'm already planning the next one.
Today I'm grateful for Frank and Lexie, coffee, weekends, attitude adjustments, deep breathes, 24 hour fitness, rain, babies, and other stuff.
Friday, April 22, 2005
Why do birds suddenly appear, every time you are near? Just like me, they long to be, close to you...
...Either that, or perhaps you're in the habit of toting around a sack of millet wherever you go.
There is a thick atmosphere hear today. Carrie and I can overhear KC obviously very angry at some unknown doctor she has a strong dislike for... Something about tattooing something on his posterior body part to assist his ability to recall some fact. Jan is having issues with the recent (Monday) coyote involved loss of her beloved Jack. MaryLue has already been orating on her younger brother's skull being peeled back, as well as his feeding tube and IV insulin vs. the poor consistency of the no-sugar vanilla jello he must now consume because either the cancer treatment or cancer itself has caused him to become diabetic. Val seems to be a tad perturbed that so many people assured her they would join her for some activity last night called 'Casino Night', and no one showed up or called (KC did text message Jan to tell her, but Jan had left early on Dr.s orders with sleep pills and had given Lynette the ticket thingies, but Lynette was already gone by the time Val got back). BJH just announced her arrival with her all sooo grossifying, loogie-hocking, phlegm augmented, clearing of the throat. It must be seasonal, because it seemed to taper off in the Winter months. Now, once again, we all get to exchange those "Eeewww!" looks every time she hacks. Whew! Now that's out of the way, on to the bright beautiful Friday that it is destined to be.
My audio book third volume (of four) ran out on the way to work, so I am actually going to try using the book holder on the treadmill to read Dyer.
Word(s) of the day: ROISTER
Lexie log: Yesterday afternoon was great. Lexie had a blast with Lucas at the park and I enjoyed watching them play, watching Sierra's practice, and Tracy's company. The weather was awesome. Apparently Sierra was 'forced' onto the team for something to do. She prefers volleyball. This years softball team looks interesting. A lot of first time players. The choose the name the Breeze. The Aloha Breeze. I am looking forward to taking Lexie to lots of practices and games. We brought Lexie's rainbow soccer ball and she kicked around the field a bit, but spent most of the time chasing or being chased by Lucas. Lucas invented the toy gun toss. He would toss his plastic green gun, and then he and Lex would run after it. She is a little toughie for sure! When we first got to the school, practice hadn't started yet, so Lex, Lucas, Tracy, Dana, Frank and I went over to the playground. To get there you cross the asphalt court with the tetherball etc.. Lexie took off running and took a spill. She was only wearing shorts and a shirt, so she got her first major road rash. And, just like the Mentos candy at the zoo, she had food in her hand so she went down on her elbow. Now it is red, swollen, and scabbed. The best part was watching her get up, dust off, and keep going. We asked her if she was OK, she says, "I think so." Daddy says this means that it hurts. If it doesn't hurt, she says she's fine. The hour and a half flew by. She went on the slides, got in the mud, crawled all over the bleachers, laughed, ran, I swung her in circles by her wrists, and she cried when we had to go home. I don't mean a tantrum, just her eyes filling with tears and a sad look on her face as she waves and says, "Bye bye Tacy, bye bye Lucas, bye bye Sara." She was so sad to leave. We are definitely doing this again. Last nights bath actually took of some dirt/mud, instead of just the usual food. Once again, we all went to bed at the same time, and after a little fussing (because the more tired she is, the less she wants to go to bed), she slept like a baby.
Today I'm grateful for Frank and Lexie, softball, friends, rice, Tracy, Sierra, Lucas, and Dana, summer, Fridays, weekends, breezes, Gum dental floss brush, and laughter.
There is a thick atmosphere hear today. Carrie and I can overhear KC obviously very angry at some unknown doctor she has a strong dislike for... Something about tattooing something on his posterior body part to assist his ability to recall some fact. Jan is having issues with the recent (Monday) coyote involved loss of her beloved Jack. MaryLue has already been orating on her younger brother's skull being peeled back, as well as his feeding tube and IV insulin vs. the poor consistency of the no-sugar vanilla jello he must now consume because either the cancer treatment or cancer itself has caused him to become diabetic. Val seems to be a tad perturbed that so many people assured her they would join her for some activity last night called 'Casino Night', and no one showed up or called (KC did text message Jan to tell her, but Jan had left early on Dr.s orders with sleep pills and had given Lynette the ticket thingies, but Lynette was already gone by the time Val got back). BJH just announced her arrival with her all sooo grossifying, loogie-hocking, phlegm augmented, clearing of the throat. It must be seasonal, because it seemed to taper off in the Winter months. Now, once again, we all get to exchange those "Eeewww!" looks every time she hacks. Whew! Now that's out of the way, on to the bright beautiful Friday that it is destined to be.
My audio book third volume (of four) ran out on the way to work, so I am actually going to try using the book holder on the treadmill to read Dyer.
Word(s) of the day: ROISTER
Lexie log: Yesterday afternoon was great. Lexie had a blast with Lucas at the park and I enjoyed watching them play, watching Sierra's practice, and Tracy's company. The weather was awesome. Apparently Sierra was 'forced' onto the team for something to do. She prefers volleyball. This years softball team looks interesting. A lot of first time players. The choose the name the Breeze. The Aloha Breeze. I am looking forward to taking Lexie to lots of practices and games. We brought Lexie's rainbow soccer ball and she kicked around the field a bit, but spent most of the time chasing or being chased by Lucas. Lucas invented the toy gun toss. He would toss his plastic green gun, and then he and Lex would run after it. She is a little toughie for sure! When we first got to the school, practice hadn't started yet, so Lex, Lucas, Tracy, Dana, Frank and I went over to the playground. To get there you cross the asphalt court with the tetherball etc.. Lexie took off running and took a spill. She was only wearing shorts and a shirt, so she got her first major road rash. And, just like the Mentos candy at the zoo, she had food in her hand so she went down on her elbow. Now it is red, swollen, and scabbed. The best part was watching her get up, dust off, and keep going. We asked her if she was OK, she says, "I think so." Daddy says this means that it hurts. If it doesn't hurt, she says she's fine. The hour and a half flew by. She went on the slides, got in the mud, crawled all over the bleachers, laughed, ran, I swung her in circles by her wrists, and she cried when we had to go home. I don't mean a tantrum, just her eyes filling with tears and a sad look on her face as she waves and says, "Bye bye Tacy, bye bye Lucas, bye bye Sara." She was so sad to leave. We are definitely doing this again. Last nights bath actually took of some dirt/mud, instead of just the usual food. Once again, we all went to bed at the same time, and after a little fussing (because the more tired she is, the less she wants to go to bed), she slept like a baby.
Today I'm grateful for Frank and Lexie, softball, friends, rice, Tracy, Sierra, Lucas, and Dana, summer, Fridays, weekends, breezes, Gum dental floss brush, and laughter.
Thursday, April 21, 2005
Come on, Vogue. Let your body move to the music.
Well there you have it then! Lexie won this years March of Dimes baby photo contest. .25 cents a vote all donated to the March of Dimes. Her picture will be blown up and carried in the march, and her name will be mentioned in the next employee newsletter. She has been entered the last three years and the cutoff age is three. Grammy picked the picture this year.
Dad was a hit at work. TT mentioned how attractive he is (we already know this, yes?), and a few people mentioned his handshake. Odd, I'm not sure I've ever shook hands with him. I must have. Anywhoo...Lunch was great and I've already started the book Dad gave me. Kind of a surreal experience. If only Dad would write an autobiography. That would be awesome. And the Salmon burger was great too. Frank, Mom, and Lexie are coming in next Monday. I can't believe how excited I am about this. I'm hoping they can come at the end of the day, and then maybe we can get something to eat after work. Frank has been up here before, but I'm happy that Mom will get to see where I work, and I am so thrilled at the thought of her running around by my desk! Weeeeee!
Note to Carrie: Thanks Carrie! I guess I am a funny creature.
Even though I had Salmon for lunch yesterday, we had it for dinner also. It was my first time cooking Salmon, and I have been wanting to try it for a long time. The salmon had been in the freezer for about a month. It was kind of silly, but when I talked to Frank on break and asked him to take out the fish, I totally forgot to tell him that there was frozen hamburger, wrapped in the same looking butchers paper, in front of the fish. So, tonight we are having hamburger. I thawed the fish in cold water, cooked it with olive oil in a pan, and we had it with rice. Super good. We'll definitely do it again, which is good since Fred brought some down that we are splitting with Dad and Chris.
Word(s) of the day: ARUGULA
One of those words that just popped into my head this morning for no apparent reason.
Lexie log: Tonight, after we get home from the gym, we are going to meet Tracy (one of my oldest and dearest and closest bestest friends!) at her daughter Sierra's softball practice. I am really looking forward to it. I miss my buddy terribly. There is just some mental connection we have. I was at the hospital for both her kiddos, Lucas I actually got to see come into the world, and Tracy was right there for Alexis. I'll have to dig up some photos to post. Tracy is like an Aunt to Lexie, but we haven't been doing things together for a while. Hopefully, this will all change with the weather getting nicer. -- We have been making a children's music CD for Lexie. It has twinkle twinkle little star, I'm a little teapot, Elmo, Barney, and so much more...For only $9.95...Just kidding! I was starting to feel as if I was selling something. We listen to it whenever we are in the car, and she just loves it. She is getting really good rhythm now. She used to be a little off-beat most of the time, but now she's right on beat.
Today I'm grateful for Frank and Lexie, music, activities, scissors, soap, crafts, and the planet Earth.
Dad was a hit at work. TT mentioned how attractive he is (we already know this, yes?), and a few people mentioned his handshake. Odd, I'm not sure I've ever shook hands with him. I must have. Anywhoo...Lunch was great and I've already started the book Dad gave me. Kind of a surreal experience. If only Dad would write an autobiography. That would be awesome. And the Salmon burger was great too. Frank, Mom, and Lexie are coming in next Monday. I can't believe how excited I am about this. I'm hoping they can come at the end of the day, and then maybe we can get something to eat after work. Frank has been up here before, but I'm happy that Mom will get to see where I work, and I am so thrilled at the thought of her running around by my desk! Weeeeee!
Note to Carrie: Thanks Carrie! I guess I am a funny creature.
Even though I had Salmon for lunch yesterday, we had it for dinner also. It was my first time cooking Salmon, and I have been wanting to try it for a long time. The salmon had been in the freezer for about a month. It was kind of silly, but when I talked to Frank on break and asked him to take out the fish, I totally forgot to tell him that there was frozen hamburger, wrapped in the same looking butchers paper, in front of the fish. So, tonight we are having hamburger. I thawed the fish in cold water, cooked it with olive oil in a pan, and we had it with rice. Super good. We'll definitely do it again, which is good since Fred brought some down that we are splitting with Dad and Chris.
Word(s) of the day: ARUGULA
One of those words that just popped into my head this morning for no apparent reason.
Lexie log: Tonight, after we get home from the gym, we are going to meet Tracy (one of my oldest and dearest and closest bestest friends!) at her daughter Sierra's softball practice. I am really looking forward to it. I miss my buddy terribly. There is just some mental connection we have. I was at the hospital for both her kiddos, Lucas I actually got to see come into the world, and Tracy was right there for Alexis. I'll have to dig up some photos to post. Tracy is like an Aunt to Lexie, but we haven't been doing things together for a while. Hopefully, this will all change with the weather getting nicer. -- We have been making a children's music CD for Lexie. It has twinkle twinkle little star, I'm a little teapot, Elmo, Barney, and so much more...For only $9.95...Just kidding! I was starting to feel as if I was selling something. We listen to it whenever we are in the car, and she just loves it. She is getting really good rhythm now. She used to be a little off-beat most of the time, but now she's right on beat.
Today I'm grateful for Frank and Lexie, music, activities, scissors, soap, crafts, and the planet Earth.
ARUGULA, FENNEL, APPLE, MANDARIN ORANGE, AND POMEGRANATE SALAD
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
1 shallot, minced
1/2 teaspoon (packed) grated lemon peel
1 large fresh fennel bulb, trimmed, halved, very thinly sliced
1 8-ounce Fuji apple, halved, cored, cut into matchstick-size strips
Whisk first 4 ingredients in small bowl. Season dressing with salt and pepper. Combine fennel and apple in medium bowl; mix in 3 tablespoons dressing. Place arugula in large bowl. Add fennel-apple mixture. Toss, adding more dressing to taste. Divide salad among 6 plates. Garnish each with 1 mandarin orange slice and sprinkle with pomegranate seeds.1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
1 shallot, minced
1/2 teaspoon (packed) grated lemon peel
1 large fresh fennel bulb, trimmed, halved, very thinly sliced
1 8-ounce Fuji apple, halved, cored, cut into matchstick-size strips
6 cups trimmed arugula leaves (from two 4-ounce packages)
2 mandarin oranges or tangerines, peeled, each cut crosswise into 3 slices Pomegranate seeds
Wednesday, April 20, 2005
At the Copa... Copacababan, the hottest spot north of Havana
Dad (my Dad) is coming over to this side of town today, and we are going to have lunch. I'm so excited. I already asked Barb if it is OK if he comes up for a tour and she said it's no problem. I am running out of work to do today. All my batches are posted, the mail isn't in yet, there are a few back bills for me to check on, I have 24 accounts to work on my A/R and two rejected electronic claims to research. When that is done, I have an ancient web page project that Jeff gave me last year. He wanted me to go through our Internet and Intranet Web sites and make a screen print of every page to put in a binder. I really do believe that it is one of his crazy little ideas that we all know he gets. Some one earlier today mentioned that he just gets a bug up his wazoo and has to have these funky little projects to distribute. It seems that in our department, Gina and I get the brunt of these projects, but everyone has had one at some point or another. Any who, I'm blogging early since I won't be here for lunch.
Mom (my Mom) got our non-refundable tickets to Alaska yesterday. So, it is way official, we are going to Alaska in August. This is an awesome present Mom and Dad. We are so excited.!
Dad is here! Just talked to him on his cell phone while he was a block away and waved out the window. Going to lunch in half hour.
Word(s) of the day: MISPOCHE, NASHERAY
Lexie log: Wow! Another night when we all go to bed at the same time. This is a habit I can get used to. She did refuse to eat her half a Scooby Doo vitamin the other day. First time she's done that, and she hasn't done it again since. I'm glad we found a vitamin for her. -- Yesterday was very nice weather and the evening, although it was cooler, was still nice. We put Lexie in sweats and let her run around out in the backyard in the dark with the flash light. It was fun. Wore me out. I would run and hide around the side of the house and she would run after me. Then I would jump out and we would laugh and run back around the house. She had fun spotlighting Turkey, who is always a good sport with her games. She check out most of the backyard via flashlight. It was just too fun.
Ok, got to go.
Ok, back from lunch. Great lunch. I sure to love Mom and Dad!
Today I'm grateful for Frank and Lexie, Mom and Dad, nice grassy yard, fish, fresh air, bookmarks, paperclips, teeth, city planners, and most especially mispoche.
Mom (my Mom) got our non-refundable tickets to Alaska yesterday. So, it is way official, we are going to Alaska in August. This is an awesome present Mom and Dad. We are so excited.!
Dad is here! Just talked to him on his cell phone while he was a block away and waved out the window. Going to lunch in half hour.
Word(s) of the day: MISPOCHE, NASHERAY
Lexie log: Wow! Another night when we all go to bed at the same time. This is a habit I can get used to. She did refuse to eat her half a Scooby Doo vitamin the other day. First time she's done that, and she hasn't done it again since. I'm glad we found a vitamin for her. -- Yesterday was very nice weather and the evening, although it was cooler, was still nice. We put Lexie in sweats and let her run around out in the backyard in the dark with the flash light. It was fun. Wore me out. I would run and hide around the side of the house and she would run after me. Then I would jump out and we would laugh and run back around the house. She had fun spotlighting Turkey, who is always a good sport with her games. She check out most of the backyard via flashlight. It was just too fun.
Ok, got to go.
Ok, back from lunch. Great lunch. I sure to love Mom and Dad!
Today I'm grateful for Frank and Lexie, Mom and Dad, nice grassy yard, fish, fresh air, bookmarks, paperclips, teeth, city planners, and most especially mispoche.
Tuesday, April 19, 2005
Swim little fishy, swim if you can. And they swam and they swam right over the damn. Boop boop didum dadum wadum CHOO!
About ten minutes ago Rome announced the new Pope. Pope Benedict the 16th. He is the German Cardinal Ratzinger. We are wondering how exactly do they pick a popes name. Did a little research and John Paul (Pius) meant continuity and conservatism, and Benedict means something to the effect of moving a different direction, perhaps not so conservative. They make some comparison to Cardinal Jean-Marie Lustiger who was deemed to be too old to be elected. Wikpedia, the free Internet Encyclopedia, already has an entry for the new Pope. Now that was quick!
Word(s) of the day: AZALEA
Lexie log: Grammy came over yesterday and took Lexie for a walk aound the block. When I got home, I took her for another one. Looking forward to walks with her, they are fun. The downfall was that I put her in sandals that weren't made for long walks, and with no socks. So, by the end she was pointing to her right foot and saying, "Owee." I took off her shoe and she had a blister. So, I carried her over the asphalt and she walked barefoot on the sidewalk. Oh, but getting neosporin and a bandaid on that was a production. She was already tired and she fought it kicking. I finally convinced her to leave the bandaid on for a while, partly by putting one on myself to show her. Then, she got the new books I ordered her. Four new books for her. She fell asleep in her highchair after some macaroni. Grammy got her some new summer clothes, yeah! We all went to bed at the same time for the third night in a row. Oh, and I forgot to say that the other night she snacked on a green olive with red pepper in the center. She didn't much care for the pepper, but she did enjoy the olive. Yicky!
Today I'm grateful for Frank and Lexie, sunny days, the backyard minimum cat security prison Dad installed while he lived in this house, trip to Alaska, coffee, and weekends.
Word(s) of the day: AZALEA
Lexie log: Grammy came over yesterday and took Lexie for a walk aound the block. When I got home, I took her for another one. Looking forward to walks with her, they are fun. The downfall was that I put her in sandals that weren't made for long walks, and with no socks. So, by the end she was pointing to her right foot and saying, "Owee." I took off her shoe and she had a blister. So, I carried her over the asphalt and she walked barefoot on the sidewalk. Oh, but getting neosporin and a bandaid on that was a production. She was already tired and she fought it kicking. I finally convinced her to leave the bandaid on for a while, partly by putting one on myself to show her. Then, she got the new books I ordered her. Four new books for her. She fell asleep in her highchair after some macaroni. Grammy got her some new summer clothes, yeah! We all went to bed at the same time for the third night in a row. Oh, and I forgot to say that the other night she snacked on a green olive with red pepper in the center. She didn't much care for the pepper, but she did enjoy the olive. Yicky!
Today I'm grateful for Frank and Lexie, sunny days, the backyard minimum cat security prison Dad installed while he lived in this house, trip to Alaska, coffee, and weekends.
Monday, April 18, 2005
Hit the road Jack, and don't you come back no more no more, no more, no more. Hit the road Jack, and don't you come back no more.
Excellent weekend. Lots of needed rain. Highlights to follow in Lexie's log. Monday is going by rather swiftly. We still need to plant the Wisteria. We keep saying we'll do it on the weekend, but it never happens. I hate talking about food. How is this for a nice stream of conscious writing exercise? Well, now I'm trying to think of something else to write about. The ex contacted my parents after however many years. Wish he'd stop doing that, I think it might actual be disturbing to them. I don't even want to waste the breath telling Frank, because he might just turn it into something to worry about. What a pain, I wish he would have just stayed a distant memory. Oh well, maybe this time when no one calls him back, he'll get the picture.
They just passed out the latest employee appreciation ballot for our department. What a strange thing, I'm not even sure why they do it anymore. It's not that it's fixed or anything, it's just that there are some people in our department that will never get the exposure to the rest of the clinic employees who all vote. So, Val, who has been here forever and two days, get voted frequently. She is very outgoing and knows very many people here. Lana got it last time, she had just come up here from another department downstairs and got lots of exposure to people. The other person I saw get it was Gina, another one who's position forces her to interact with the rest of the clinic. This time I bet money on Jan. She just came up here from new patient registration, and she knows a ton of clinic staff. Well, how about the other hard workers, like KC, Debbie P, Scott, Carrie, or TT? Here's to you guys!
Saw Dad this weekend for the first time since the whole ER/ hospital thing. Glad to see him looking well and in excellent spirits. Also glad he is taking it easy and letting others do the lifting.
Word(s) of the day: BLUDGEON
Lexie log: Where to begin? Let's see...This morning she got up with me and followed me around half asleep, in her oversized white Baruka with messy hair, half-open eyes, holding pink puppy, and shuffling about after me. When I was ready to go I had extra time, so we sat on the couch and she explained to me in detail something about a train and a truck. Unfortunately for me the detail part wasn't quite understandable. She did ask me where I was going and when I would be coming back. After about 15 minutes of this, I took her back to bed and she cried as I left the house. Once again, I don't know how I do it. This weekend was very pleasant. Saturday, we were supposed to get the oil changed, but when that was cancelled, we went over to Gramma Betty's. Lex had a blast playing with Gramma and Yancy while we went and got lunch and then went to Walgreen's for a toy. The first time we left, she didn't even notice we were gone, but the second time, she did ask where we went. Gramma's neighbor Jay's daughter Jesse gave Lexie a flashing lightup necklace that is too difficult to describe. When we got back home, we took a family nap. Sunday we all woke up earlyish (8:00am for a Sunday is early enough) and went to Grammy's house to visit Grammy, Grandad and Great Uncle Fred who is down from Alaska on business. Fred and Lexie got along wonderfully. We all hiked the trails on the property, Lexie had fun on the treadmill, playing the piano/synthesizer, and watching cartoons on the couch with Fred. Then we drove into Yamhill to eat lunch at Zippy's. The place was absolutely empty, which was wonderful since they didn't mind Lexie running all over the place. Great lunch, great company. Then we parted ways and went home for the evening. Lexie watched Garfield, then we all watched the Incredibles again, then time for bed. Ahhhh, weekends!
Today I'm grateful for Frank and Lexie, audio books, water, purple forks, the plastics industry, weekends, and laughter.
They just passed out the latest employee appreciation ballot for our department. What a strange thing, I'm not even sure why they do it anymore. It's not that it's fixed or anything, it's just that there are some people in our department that will never get the exposure to the rest of the clinic employees who all vote. So, Val, who has been here forever and two days, get voted frequently. She is very outgoing and knows very many people here. Lana got it last time, she had just come up here from another department downstairs and got lots of exposure to people. The other person I saw get it was Gina, another one who's position forces her to interact with the rest of the clinic. This time I bet money on Jan. She just came up here from new patient registration, and she knows a ton of clinic staff. Well, how about the other hard workers, like KC, Debbie P, Scott, Carrie, or TT? Here's to you guys!
Saw Dad this weekend for the first time since the whole ER/ hospital thing. Glad to see him looking well and in excellent spirits. Also glad he is taking it easy and letting others do the lifting.
Word(s) of the day: BLUDGEON
Lexie log: Where to begin? Let's see...This morning she got up with me and followed me around half asleep, in her oversized white Baruka with messy hair, half-open eyes, holding pink puppy, and shuffling about after me. When I was ready to go I had extra time, so we sat on the couch and she explained to me in detail something about a train and a truck. Unfortunately for me the detail part wasn't quite understandable. She did ask me where I was going and when I would be coming back. After about 15 minutes of this, I took her back to bed and she cried as I left the house. Once again, I don't know how I do it. This weekend was very pleasant. Saturday, we were supposed to get the oil changed, but when that was cancelled, we went over to Gramma Betty's. Lex had a blast playing with Gramma and Yancy while we went and got lunch and then went to Walgreen's for a toy. The first time we left, she didn't even notice we were gone, but the second time, she did ask where we went. Gramma's neighbor Jay's daughter Jesse gave Lexie a flashing lightup necklace that is too difficult to describe. When we got back home, we took a family nap. Sunday we all woke up earlyish (8:00am for a Sunday is early enough) and went to Grammy's house to visit Grammy, Grandad and Great Uncle Fred who is down from Alaska on business. Fred and Lexie got along wonderfully. We all hiked the trails on the property, Lexie had fun on the treadmill, playing the piano/synthesizer, and watching cartoons on the couch with Fred. Then we drove into Yamhill to eat lunch at Zippy's. The place was absolutely empty, which was wonderful since they didn't mind Lexie running all over the place. Great lunch, great company. Then we parted ways and went home for the evening. Lexie watched Garfield, then we all watched the Incredibles again, then time for bed. Ahhhh, weekends!
Today I'm grateful for Frank and Lexie, audio books, water, purple forks, the plastics industry, weekends, and laughter.
Friday, April 15, 2005
Should five percent appear to small, be thankful I don't take it all. 'Cause I'm the taxman, Yeah, I'm the taxman.
Filed federal in February E-file, state last week paper. It would be nice if state didn't cost to E-file. Here I am at work today. Hello J.H. Anyone know what movie that's from? Brazil! Weird flicks to watch: Flash Gordon, Barbarella, and Brazil. All very weird movies.
Is it Friday yet? Why yes, it is. I have a little over 39 hours of vacation saved up for Alaska. Since it's actually PTO, If I have to take any sick or other time off, that hurts. By my calculations, if I don't take any paid time off between now and August, I should have about two weeks. It sure does seem like I used to have a lot more vacation time. Hey, It's Friday, I have two unpaid vacation days coming in three hours, so quit yer pithing.
Carrie, stop singing about your butt hurting to 'My Darling Clementine.' Stand up and walk around or something, better yet, you can go get us lunch. Thanks pal.
Dilemma: I don't have a working, free Swahili to English dictionary... A little help please?
Word(s) of the day: UTOPIA
Lexie log: Daddy and I have always been really big on flashlights. Although it is immensely interesting that we happened to meet each other because of a flashlight, this has nothing to do with it. We have always just been fascinated with them. We can spend a great deal of time in the flash light section of G.I. Joes. We are constantly searching for the perfect light. Portable, super bright, great distance. The smaller and brighter, the better. Of course if you could aim it with your hands full, or set it down and have it aimed perfectly at anything, and, well, we have yet to find perfection. We have had headlamps, one's that convert to lanterns, super big ones, super tiny ones, you name it, we can't resist. Currently I carry a cobalt blue mini-maglite in my purse. Now, to pass the torch, so to speak, Lexie has her first flashlight of her own. Her Daddy bought her one last night. We decided to get her one a couple of days ago, when she borrowed one of ours and had such a blast that she cried when we eventually tried to repo it. This one has a strap and a rubber easy grip. She loves it. We made the mistake of giving it to her right after her nap and before dinner. It was very hard to get her to stop and eat her dinner. We wandered around the house with her turning off the lights. She would spotlight an object and say what it was. For example, in a dark kitchen, she shines it on a ball and says, "ball", then the fish, then a chair. We have always been abnormally obsessed with flashlights, but never knew they could be such fun. Maybe the weekend, weather permitting, we can try it out in the backyard. Sorry neighbors.
Today I'm grateful for Frank and Lexie, flashlights, couches, bean burritos, weekends, energy (wish I had more), and stuff.
Is it Friday yet? Why yes, it is. I have a little over 39 hours of vacation saved up for Alaska. Since it's actually PTO, If I have to take any sick or other time off, that hurts. By my calculations, if I don't take any paid time off between now and August, I should have about two weeks. It sure does seem like I used to have a lot more vacation time. Hey, It's Friday, I have two unpaid vacation days coming in three hours, so quit yer pithing.
Carrie, stop singing about your butt hurting to 'My Darling Clementine.' Stand up and walk around or something, better yet, you can go get us lunch. Thanks pal.
Dilemma: I don't have a working, free Swahili to English dictionary... A little help please?
Word(s) of the day: UTOPIA
Lexie log: Daddy and I have always been really big on flashlights. Although it is immensely interesting that we happened to meet each other because of a flashlight, this has nothing to do with it. We have always just been fascinated with them. We can spend a great deal of time in the flash light section of G.I. Joes. We are constantly searching for the perfect light. Portable, super bright, great distance. The smaller and brighter, the better. Of course if you could aim it with your hands full, or set it down and have it aimed perfectly at anything, and, well, we have yet to find perfection. We have had headlamps, one's that convert to lanterns, super big ones, super tiny ones, you name it, we can't resist. Currently I carry a cobalt blue mini-maglite in my purse. Now, to pass the torch, so to speak, Lexie has her first flashlight of her own. Her Daddy bought her one last night. We decided to get her one a couple of days ago, when she borrowed one of ours and had such a blast that she cried when we eventually tried to repo it. This one has a strap and a rubber easy grip. She loves it. We made the mistake of giving it to her right after her nap and before dinner. It was very hard to get her to stop and eat her dinner. We wandered around the house with her turning off the lights. She would spotlight an object and say what it was. For example, in a dark kitchen, she shines it on a ball and says, "ball", then the fish, then a chair. We have always been abnormally obsessed with flashlights, but never knew they could be such fun. Maybe the weekend, weather permitting, we can try it out in the backyard. Sorry neighbors.
Today I'm grateful for Frank and Lexie, flashlights, couches, bean burritos, weekends, energy (wish I had more), and stuff.
Thursday, April 14, 2005
Daylight come and me wanna go home.
Little know fact: Harry Belafonte's 'Calypso' album includes a "Star-O" song as well as the infamous "Day-O" song. Found that out today.
Last December we bought a 2005 Honda Accord from Beaverton Honda. A few weeks later they sent us a coupon for a free oil change, which I promptly lost. So, I called there service department today, and Jenny, the service rep, was very kind and let us schedule one for this Saturday for free. Of course, she did have to verify that we purchased the car there, but I'm still psyched about it. I'm still not comfortable with the 10,000 miles between oil changes, so it's only at 5,600 and she's a going in. The service lady laughed when I told her this, so maybe they will be able to ease or worries when we go in.
Word(s) of the day: NINAKUPENDA BABA (NA MAMA)
I've had a minor epiphany today. I frequently wonder about the difference in society today than when I was growing up. I've come up with my own little, simple, three piece theory. People are growing up to be more cynical, going through life angrier and with little to no coping skills.
Lexie log: Lexie does not like Lil' Entrees pasta. I believe I already knew this, so why did I give it to her last night? Because we had one, from Gramma Betty, and for some reason, I thought, "What the heck, maybe she's changed her mind." So, she ate almost all the peas, but wouldn't touch the pasta thingies, even with a sprinkle of Parmesan. We thought maybe she just wasn't very hungry since she had eaten two chicken pieces a few hours before. Ha! Around 8:00pm she starts saying, "Candy? Candy? Candy?" Of course we have none, because Daddy gave her the last of the gummi bears while I'm at work. But that's beside the point...She shouldn't be having candy just willy nilly at any time she asks for it. So, she at an entire banana, and then a beef Bologna and cheese sandwich. She's already an excellent sandwich eater. As she was walking out of the kitchen, we saw that the cheese and meat was starting to slide out from between the bread. Frank and I were in a panic to catch her before it hit the floor, but as soon as I rounded the corner into the living room I saw that she was keen to the situation. She had flipped the sandwich around. She had a nice trail/string of partially melted Colby-Jack hanging from her mouth to the sandwich and a large bite taken out of the meat.
Today I'm grateful for Frank and Lexie, perspective (when I'm fortunate enough to have it), free Web translators, dirt, mail-in prescription programs, all the known and potentially unknown elements, and joy.
Last December we bought a 2005 Honda Accord from Beaverton Honda. A few weeks later they sent us a coupon for a free oil change, which I promptly lost. So, I called there service department today, and Jenny, the service rep, was very kind and let us schedule one for this Saturday for free. Of course, she did have to verify that we purchased the car there, but I'm still psyched about it. I'm still not comfortable with the 10,000 miles between oil changes, so it's only at 5,600 and she's a going in. The service lady laughed when I told her this, so maybe they will be able to ease or worries when we go in.
Word(s) of the day: NINAKUPENDA BABA (NA MAMA)
I've had a minor epiphany today. I frequently wonder about the difference in society today than when I was growing up. I've come up with my own little, simple, three piece theory. People are growing up to be more cynical, going through life angrier and with little to no coping skills.
Lexie log: Lexie does not like Lil' Entrees pasta. I believe I already knew this, so why did I give it to her last night? Because we had one, from Gramma Betty, and for some reason, I thought, "What the heck, maybe she's changed her mind." So, she ate almost all the peas, but wouldn't touch the pasta thingies, even with a sprinkle of Parmesan. We thought maybe she just wasn't very hungry since she had eaten two chicken pieces a few hours before. Ha! Around 8:00pm she starts saying, "Candy? Candy? Candy?" Of course we have none, because Daddy gave her the last of the gummi bears while I'm at work. But that's beside the point...She shouldn't be having candy just willy nilly at any time she asks for it. So, she at an entire banana, and then a beef Bologna and cheese sandwich. She's already an excellent sandwich eater. As she was walking out of the kitchen, we saw that the cheese and meat was starting to slide out from between the bread. Frank and I were in a panic to catch her before it hit the floor, but as soon as I rounded the corner into the living room I saw that she was keen to the situation. She had flipped the sandwich around. She had a nice trail/string of partially melted Colby-Jack hanging from her mouth to the sandwich and a large bite taken out of the meat.
Today I'm grateful for Frank and Lexie, perspective (when I'm fortunate enough to have it), free Web translators, dirt, mail-in prescription programs, all the known and potentially unknown elements, and joy.
Wednesday, April 13, 2005
Woo hoo, woo hoo hoo. Woo hoo, woo hoo hoo.
Those are the lyrics to Lexie's favorite commercial for Vonage, also a commercial for Chevy Cobalt, and a song on the soundtrack of Kill Bill vol. 1. The band is the 5.6.7.8's. Catchy little tune.
This morning I was so frustrated by Marylue, the accountant. I'm a bit frazzled and drained, not worried mind you, just heightened sensitivity due to Dad's IP hospital stay last night. Really I'm fine, and no one would notice a difference in me, except.... Well, Marylue has quite a volume to her voice, and she loves to come out, sit in Val's chair, and tell stories of the utmost details of what's going on in her life. Now, I sit on the other side of the cube wall from Val, but it is next to impossible not to be engulfed in her orations. Today she decided to tell depressing and detailed details of her brother's recent unfortunate setbacks and crisis with his cancer treatment. The problem I had with this, is she just sounds so fatalistic and yet jaunty when she talks, like she doesn't even care. She rarely shows any emotion in her conversational voice, except for shock. I even turned my audio book volume up to try to tune her out, but she still came through loud and clear. Finally TT went over and politely asked that she lower her conversation voice so that the whole office didn't have to share her fascinating personal life.
Over that now...
Word(s) of the day: ENCHANTMENT
I hope Mom gets her MP3 player working again soon. Dad's feeling better and should go home any hour now. I love his cheerful attitude.
Lexie log: She never took a nap (that I know of) yesterday. I have never seen her so extremely cranky and fussy. Nothing suited her, she basically wanted to drag either of us around the house and cry. She came really close to a time out, but I don't really know if time outs are appropriate for over-tired toddlers who can't even understand why they are acting out, let alone communicate it. So, Daddy let me retire early, while he stayed up until who know when with the little monsterette. Next thing I know, she is in between us begging for water. Now that's something fairly new that I'm thinking is an improved habit. Instead of waking for milk in the middle of the night, she is asking for water. I'm loving that! -- Something else I'm enjoying is her responsible behavior in public, like at the store. We went to Safeway last night, and for the first time I can remember, she walked around with us, not in the cart, not holding hands. It was actually fun. She would look at all the packaging and count and talk to the pictures on the products. Then if we would move along, she would either just come along with us, or saying her name once got her to catch up with us. I very much enjoyed the experience. She's so awesome! I'm going to look for a video that emphasizes music and dancing for her. She loves the nursery rhyme one so much, and the wiggles skits also. She is very ready for interactive dance video. I just made that term up, because I can't think of what to call what I'm thinking of.
Today I'm grateful for Frank and Lexie, slippers, urologist guy, Mom and Dad (aka Grandad and Grammy), Gramma Betty, weird entertaining dreams, weekends, naps, laughter, humor, the present moment, and everything else I'm not displeased with.
This morning I was so frustrated by Marylue, the accountant. I'm a bit frazzled and drained, not worried mind you, just heightened sensitivity due to Dad's IP hospital stay last night. Really I'm fine, and no one would notice a difference in me, except.... Well, Marylue has quite a volume to her voice, and she loves to come out, sit in Val's chair, and tell stories of the utmost details of what's going on in her life. Now, I sit on the other side of the cube wall from Val, but it is next to impossible not to be engulfed in her orations. Today she decided to tell depressing and detailed details of her brother's recent unfortunate setbacks and crisis with his cancer treatment. The problem I had with this, is she just sounds so fatalistic and yet jaunty when she talks, like she doesn't even care. She rarely shows any emotion in her conversational voice, except for shock. I even turned my audio book volume up to try to tune her out, but she still came through loud and clear. Finally TT went over and politely asked that she lower her conversation voice so that the whole office didn't have to share her fascinating personal life.
Over that now...
Word(s) of the day: ENCHANTMENT
I hope Mom gets her MP3 player working again soon. Dad's feeling better and should go home any hour now. I love his cheerful attitude.
Lexie log: She never took a nap (that I know of) yesterday. I have never seen her so extremely cranky and fussy. Nothing suited her, she basically wanted to drag either of us around the house and cry. She came really close to a time out, but I don't really know if time outs are appropriate for over-tired toddlers who can't even understand why they are acting out, let alone communicate it. So, Daddy let me retire early, while he stayed up until who know when with the little monsterette. Next thing I know, she is in between us begging for water. Now that's something fairly new that I'm thinking is an improved habit. Instead of waking for milk in the middle of the night, she is asking for water. I'm loving that! -- Something else I'm enjoying is her responsible behavior in public, like at the store. We went to Safeway last night, and for the first time I can remember, she walked around with us, not in the cart, not holding hands. It was actually fun. She would look at all the packaging and count and talk to the pictures on the products. Then if we would move along, she would either just come along with us, or saying her name once got her to catch up with us. I very much enjoyed the experience. She's so awesome! I'm going to look for a video that emphasizes music and dancing for her. She loves the nursery rhyme one so much, and the wiggles skits also. She is very ready for interactive dance video. I just made that term up, because I can't think of what to call what I'm thinking of.
Today I'm grateful for Frank and Lexie, slippers, urologist guy, Mom and Dad (aka Grandad and Grammy), Gramma Betty, weird entertaining dreams, weekends, naps, laughter, humor, the present moment, and everything else I'm not displeased with.
Tuesday, April 12, 2005
I just called to say 'I love you'.
Blogging early today. Lunch today is a meeting on the new 401K plan. Catered and paid lunch. Anyway, getting my blog in here and there when I can. Yesterday the cube decided it would be acceptable to bring in headsets and listen to music, or whatever, to drown out some of the annoying and high volume chitter chatter. I am soooo excited about this as I have been dying to listen to my mp3 player while posting payments, but didn't want to seem offensive. At first, when I started listening to my book, I thought I wouldn't catch anything, that I would be too distracted. Now I am on a roll. My keying is going just fine and I'm happily enjoying to story line. I take breaks every so often. If this keeps up I could be really happy.
Dad (my Daddy), just called on the way to the docs. It's been a rough week for me waiting to hear about all this, and I totally love Dad's attitude. Usually this wouldn't be the sort of thing I'd jump to blog at, but they did call while I was in the middle of blogging, and it is the only thing in my head to type. You know the almost breathless feeling accompanied by butterflies in the stomach and the slightly hot burn of tears that won't ever push past your eyes, all along with a tremendous feeling of love. Dad and Mom went to ER last night, Dad with minor hemorrhage from procedures done last week to check on his cancer. Wow! I can't believe how incredibly hard that was for me to type. I got all the way to the last two words, and couldn't get them out. It just doesn't feel right to give him ownership of something so boorish and churlish. Three cheers to bacille Calmette-Guerin. Get thee gone CIS!
Word(s) of the day: AMPOULE
Here is an excerpt from a page I hit doing some research. I'm going to keep this passage in my prayers: "...Once in the bladder, the live organisms (BCG) enter macrophages, where they induce the same type of histologic and immunologic reaction as found in patients with tuberculosis. BCG also has a predilection for entering bladder cancer cells, where the proteins are broken down and fragments are combined with histocompatibility antigens and displayed on the cell surface. This induces a cytokine and direct cell-to-cell cytotoxicity response, which targets these cells for destruction...." On top of how much I appreciate how this is going to work, it also includes a veritable feast of neato words.
Lexie log: Lexie was sweet as apple pie last night. She is normally sweet mixed in with feisty, but last night, just sweet as sweet can be. It was the first night since I can remember that she didn't beg for a bath. She took pink puppy out on the deck and knelt with him on the bench to look at the moon and the night sky. When she came back in the house she said, "Goodnight moon. Goodnight twinkle start." Melt your heart. Then, she actually wanted to go to bed when we did. We turned off all the lights, she crawled into our bed, and she started quietly talking to us. Then, she reached over and found my face with her soft little hands, and gave me a goodnight kiss. I told her, "I love you," and she said back in the sweetest little voice, " Ah dove u." Then Daddy said, "I love you, " and she again said, "Ah dove u." It was so sweet and perfect.
Today I'm grateful for Frank and Lexie, Mom and Dad, Piroshkis, Orowheat Healthnut bread, the Internet, fragrant hand lotion, audio books, and happiness.
Dad (my Daddy), just called on the way to the docs. It's been a rough week for me waiting to hear about all this, and I totally love Dad's attitude. Usually this wouldn't be the sort of thing I'd jump to blog at, but they did call while I was in the middle of blogging, and it is the only thing in my head to type. You know the almost breathless feeling accompanied by butterflies in the stomach and the slightly hot burn of tears that won't ever push past your eyes, all along with a tremendous feeling of love. Dad and Mom went to ER last night, Dad with minor hemorrhage from procedures done last week to check on his cancer. Wow! I can't believe how incredibly hard that was for me to type. I got all the way to the last two words, and couldn't get them out. It just doesn't feel right to give him ownership of something so boorish and churlish. Three cheers to bacille Calmette-Guerin. Get thee gone CIS!
Word(s) of the day: AMPOULE
Here is an excerpt from a page I hit doing some research. I'm going to keep this passage in my prayers: "...Once in the bladder, the live organisms (BCG) enter macrophages, where they induce the same type of histologic and immunologic reaction as found in patients with tuberculosis. BCG also has a predilection for entering bladder cancer cells, where the proteins are broken down and fragments are combined with histocompatibility antigens and displayed on the cell surface. This induces a cytokine and direct cell-to-cell cytotoxicity response, which targets these cells for destruction...." On top of how much I appreciate how this is going to work, it also includes a veritable feast of neato words.
Lexie log: Lexie was sweet as apple pie last night. She is normally sweet mixed in with feisty, but last night, just sweet as sweet can be. It was the first night since I can remember that she didn't beg for a bath. She took pink puppy out on the deck and knelt with him on the bench to look at the moon and the night sky. When she came back in the house she said, "Goodnight moon. Goodnight twinkle start." Melt your heart. Then, she actually wanted to go to bed when we did. We turned off all the lights, she crawled into our bed, and she started quietly talking to us. Then, she reached over and found my face with her soft little hands, and gave me a goodnight kiss. I told her, "I love you," and she said back in the sweetest little voice, " Ah dove u." Then Daddy said, "I love you, " and she again said, "Ah dove u." It was so sweet and perfect.
Today I'm grateful for Frank and Lexie, Mom and Dad, Piroshkis, Orowheat Healthnut bread, the Internet, fragrant hand lotion, audio books, and happiness.
Monday, April 11, 2005
You say potato, I say potatoe. Let's call the whole thing off.
Another Monday on the frontlines. Reports are almost done, and my work didn't complete itself over the weekend as I had hoped.
Word(s) of the day: PIPERACEAE
I'm a little too irritable and edgy to submit a decent blog entry today. And, my lunch made me uncomfortably warm. I know, I know...Biznitch, biznitch, biznitch. Why don't I give it a rest?!
Lexie log: This weekend was great. Saturday we took Lex to a park close by and fed the geese and ducks all our bread ends. It was a blast. At first she was leery of the loud white birds that stood as tall as her, but after a while she couldn't stop smiling and laughing. She would only run from them if they would hiss at her, and a couple nipped at her shirt and pants. We took lots of pics, but haven't checked them out yet. Sunday, Grammy and Grandad came down at noon so that Grandad could check out the leaky sink and Grammy could spend time with Lexie and me. Daddy and Grandad spent the better part of the day fixing the sink, while Grammy, Lexie and I played with the super bubble machine in the back yard, went to return movies, visited the "Just a Buck" store, got gas, and picked up Taco Bell for lunch. Lexie is starting on a two bath a day habit. We are trying to figure how to be more strict on this, but haven't gotten there yet. Lex didn't fall asleep for her 1:00 nap until 5:00. Daddy let me go to bed early and stayed up with her.
Today I'm grateful for Frank and Lexie, fresh air, cats, family, potatoes and all things starchy (well, I guess I'm not really grateful for that as it does cause me no end of grief, but anyway), parks, and happiness.
Word(s) of the day: PIPERACEAE
I'm a little too irritable and edgy to submit a decent blog entry today. And, my lunch made me uncomfortably warm. I know, I know...Biznitch, biznitch, biznitch. Why don't I give it a rest?!
Lexie log: This weekend was great. Saturday we took Lex to a park close by and fed the geese and ducks all our bread ends. It was a blast. At first she was leery of the loud white birds that stood as tall as her, but after a while she couldn't stop smiling and laughing. She would only run from them if they would hiss at her, and a couple nipped at her shirt and pants. We took lots of pics, but haven't checked them out yet. Sunday, Grammy and Grandad came down at noon so that Grandad could check out the leaky sink and Grammy could spend time with Lexie and me. Daddy and Grandad spent the better part of the day fixing the sink, while Grammy, Lexie and I played with the super bubble machine in the back yard, went to return movies, visited the "Just a Buck" store, got gas, and picked up Taco Bell for lunch. Lexie is starting on a two bath a day habit. We are trying to figure how to be more strict on this, but haven't gotten there yet. Lex didn't fall asleep for her 1:00 nap until 5:00. Daddy let me go to bed early and stayed up with her.
Today I'm grateful for Frank and Lexie, fresh air, cats, family, potatoes and all things starchy (well, I guess I'm not really grateful for that as it does cause me no end of grief, but anyway), parks, and happiness.
Friday, April 08, 2005
DO-RE-MI-FA-SO-LA-TI...DO
Today I am just this side of ho-hum. I'm not depressed or tired, just heavier than usual. I'm prone to spacing out and distraction. Off center, out of balance. Reminds me of a great flick I've seen a few times title KOYAANISQATSI. Music by Phillip Glass. Great watch. Maybe it's just a coincidence, but I forgot to put on my mood ring this morning. Is it possible that the ring now possesses my mood? Ya, wadeva.
Word(s) of the day: MURKY DISPOSITION
Happy Birthday Val! I do believe I've had enough of KCs seven layer dip for today. One thing I've learned about this blog, content first, format later.
Lexie log: She is just so fun to listen to. I can't get over it. Everything she says is so fresh and heart felt. Even when she is throwing a fit she is so genuine. She is still dragging around Mylar Sponge Bob. It absolutely breaks my heart when I am doing something else and she just wants me to go into the living room, sit down with her and play. If it were up to us, nothing would ever get done. Daddy and I were running around doing laundry and making the bed and she just wanted me all to herself. Such a blessing she is. -- Daddy gave her dessert last night, her first ho ho, with caramel no less. Bouncing off the walls. She was a happy bouncy thing for a while.
Today I'm grateful for Frank and Lexie, soundcards, wings, spiders, weekends, laughter, and water.
Word(s) of the day: MURKY DISPOSITION
Happy Birthday Val! I do believe I've had enough of KCs seven layer dip for today. One thing I've learned about this blog, content first, format later.
Lexie log: She is just so fun to listen to. I can't get over it. Everything she says is so fresh and heart felt. Even when she is throwing a fit she is so genuine. She is still dragging around Mylar Sponge Bob. It absolutely breaks my heart when I am doing something else and she just wants me to go into the living room, sit down with her and play. If it were up to us, nothing would ever get done. Daddy and I were running around doing laundry and making the bed and she just wanted me all to herself. Such a blessing she is. -- Daddy gave her dessert last night, her first ho ho, with caramel no less. Bouncing off the walls. She was a happy bouncy thing for a while.
Today I'm grateful for Frank and Lexie, soundcards, wings, spiders, weekends, laughter, and water.
Thursday, April 07, 2005
Oh well I never, was there ever, a cat so clever as Magical Mr. Mistoffelees
Today's blog is dedicated to cats, specifically Emma Molly Mouse. Mouse passed away yesterday. She was Aunt Chris' wonderful Siamese. Mouse lived many wonderful years.
Uncle Steve, Sally, Scott, and David all took me to see Cats on Broadway in 1996 when they treated me to a visit to their New Jersey home.
Here at work it is Dawn's last day. She is a coder who is leaving for a different coding job at a larger office with more specialists. Good luck Dawn! Jan, who is replacing her, is a witty, spitfire, who I'm sure will fit in perfectly here.
Word(s) of the day: VIBRISSAE
Lexie log: Lexie knows more of cats than she does of children her age right now. I'm sure this will change as soon as she goes to pre-school, but she lives with five. I also grew up as an only child with six cats. Lexie, hopefully, will also have a sibling some day down the road. -- Lexie would not let me go to bed last night. She is such a joy to be with (minus tantrum) that it is so hard for me to not stay up and have playtime on the living room couch. I do pay for it the next day however, and all I wish to do right now is to go home and take a nap. This is the reasons I love weekends so much. I get to spend the whole day with her and not stay awake till the wee hours of the morning. Even though she stayed up so late, Daddy told me she got up at 9:00. Not too bad. -- She doesn't like pickles, having her hair brushed, being taken out of the tub, too much input after waking from a nap sends her over the edge, and she puts up a heck of a fight to avoid sleep. She loves to dance and sing, and she pretty much knows the words to Twinkle twinkle little star. She will go out of her way for even the slightest puddle. She loves the rain, flowers, clouds, pink puppy, baths, chocolate milk, ducks, blocks, pasta, pillow fights, laughing, cats, dogs, birds, twirling her hair while she drinks milk, hide and seek, Teletubbies, nursery rhymes, going anywhere with Momma and Daddy, her grandparents, bugs, jumping on the bed and sofa, animated musical movies, running, spinning, swinging, getting dizzy, making funny noises and faces with Momma and Daddy, Sponge Bob, Clifford, climbing things, and life.
Today I'm grateful for Frank and Lexie, Cats, family, DP, mirrors, Oregon weather, and weekends.
Uncle Steve, Sally, Scott, and David all took me to see Cats on Broadway in 1996 when they treated me to a visit to their New Jersey home.
Here at work it is Dawn's last day. She is a coder who is leaving for a different coding job at a larger office with more specialists. Good luck Dawn! Jan, who is replacing her, is a witty, spitfire, who I'm sure will fit in perfectly here.
Word(s) of the day: VIBRISSAE
Lexie log: Lexie knows more of cats than she does of children her age right now. I'm sure this will change as soon as she goes to pre-school, but she lives with five. I also grew up as an only child with six cats. Lexie, hopefully, will also have a sibling some day down the road. -- Lexie would not let me go to bed last night. She is such a joy to be with (minus tantrum) that it is so hard for me to not stay up and have playtime on the living room couch. I do pay for it the next day however, and all I wish to do right now is to go home and take a nap. This is the reasons I love weekends so much. I get to spend the whole day with her and not stay awake till the wee hours of the morning. Even though she stayed up so late, Daddy told me she got up at 9:00. Not too bad. -- She doesn't like pickles, having her hair brushed, being taken out of the tub, too much input after waking from a nap sends her over the edge, and she puts up a heck of a fight to avoid sleep. She loves to dance and sing, and she pretty much knows the words to Twinkle twinkle little star. She will go out of her way for even the slightest puddle. She loves the rain, flowers, clouds, pink puppy, baths, chocolate milk, ducks, blocks, pasta, pillow fights, laughing, cats, dogs, birds, twirling her hair while she drinks milk, hide and seek, Teletubbies, nursery rhymes, going anywhere with Momma and Daddy, her grandparents, bugs, jumping on the bed and sofa, animated musical movies, running, spinning, swinging, getting dizzy, making funny noises and faces with Momma and Daddy, Sponge Bob, Clifford, climbing things, and life.
Today I'm grateful for Frank and Lexie, Cats, family, DP, mirrors, Oregon weather, and weekends.
Wednesday, April 06, 2005
Gliddy glub gloopy, Nibby nabby noopy, La la la lo lo. Sabba sibby sabba, Nooby abba nabba, Le le lo lo. Tooby ooby walla, Nooby abba naba...
Good Morning Starshine! What a cluster this morning has been. The backup for the billing application database we use didn't run last night. This is more of an issue than normal, as it should have been the backup for month end close. First thing this morning Giner told me that a report she had ran last night had not finished, and that it had postponed other job processes. Then a little over an hour later, everyone was kicked off the system automatically so the backup could run. We still hadn't put two and two together to figure out that her report had pushed the backup to run during regular work hours. Giner was raising quite a ruckus about the backup issue, until she must have discovered that it was her fault. Then, forgetting that she had already told me about the report, she went in and deleted it. Then IT Seth found out from PRISM support that it was a report that caused the problem and she acted like she didn't know anything about it. Since I seem to be the office Report Writer expert, Seth sauntered over to my desk to inquire if I knew anything about it. Just as I was explaining what Giner had said to me earlier, she came over and did her darndest to save face. It was painfull to watch her back pedalling. I am just so irritated at her for that. Over a year ago, I did the same thing, I mean, I ran a report that went into an infinite loop and stopped everything all night until the old IT guy killed it. Just fess up to you mistakes people! It's so much easier, simple, and for God's sake, it won't kill you. It'll probably even make you stronger as well as happier. Arrghhh! Ok, I'm done with that (p)issue.
Today a City of Portland work crew had three trucks, and six guys out in the intersection in front of the clinic. They redirected traffic using orange cones so that they could remove and repaint the right turn only arrow. Not only do we all agree (here in the office) that the new arrow is much worse than the old one, but they kept having to rearrange the cones for trucks and bus traffic. Two different busses ran over and dragged cones away, one over a block away. I actually called the number on the side of the truck and they patched me through to dispatch who basically blew me off. Whatever. I wonder how many tax payer dollars are wasted on lost cones. Why did it take three trucks and six guys? They used something like a sander to remove (an not so well either) the old arrow, swept up the dust, painted the new one, heated the pavement with a blow torch, and cooled it with water. Not all at the same time, mind you. So, basically, only one person was working one piece of equipment at a time. Sander, broom, torch, painter, water sprayer.
Word(s) of the day: SUPERFLUOUS RUCKUS
Lexie log: Yesterday Grammy came over for her weekly visit. We all went to Fred Meyers to get some steak and shoes. Grammy bought us two awesome steaks, Lexie would not eat a bite. She just doesn't like it. She had cheese and spinach raviolli. While we were at the store, Grammy gave her a Mylar helium Sponge Bob balloon to carry around. By the time we got home, Lexie was pooped. While Grammy and I copied pictures to CD, Lexie and Sponge Bob sat in an oversized chair and carried on quite the animated conversation. Eventually, she tried to take a nap on the chair, with him. It was hysterical to watch. No matter how she maneuvered about and repositioned herself and Sponge Bob, she couldn't get comfortable. Her legs would hang over the edge, Sponge Bob would float back up to the ceiling, and the whole while she is just goofy and exhausted. Good stuff. Naptime finally came around 7:00pm. Very late.
Correction to previous post: Grammy pointed out to me yesterday that I mistakenly referred to Gramma Betty as Grammy in Monday's blog. I have since corrected this.
Today I'm grateful for Frank and Lexie, balloons, entertainment, audio books, 80's music, and weekends.
Today a City of Portland work crew had three trucks, and six guys out in the intersection in front of the clinic. They redirected traffic using orange cones so that they could remove and repaint the right turn only arrow. Not only do we all agree (here in the office) that the new arrow is much worse than the old one, but they kept having to rearrange the cones for trucks and bus traffic. Two different busses ran over and dragged cones away, one over a block away. I actually called the number on the side of the truck and they patched me through to dispatch who basically blew me off. Whatever. I wonder how many tax payer dollars are wasted on lost cones. Why did it take three trucks and six guys? They used something like a sander to remove (an not so well either) the old arrow, swept up the dust, painted the new one, heated the pavement with a blow torch, and cooled it with water. Not all at the same time, mind you. So, basically, only one person was working one piece of equipment at a time. Sander, broom, torch, painter, water sprayer.
Word(s) of the day: SUPERFLUOUS RUCKUS
Lexie log: Yesterday Grammy came over for her weekly visit. We all went to Fred Meyers to get some steak and shoes. Grammy bought us two awesome steaks, Lexie would not eat a bite. She just doesn't like it. She had cheese and spinach raviolli. While we were at the store, Grammy gave her a Mylar helium Sponge Bob balloon to carry around. By the time we got home, Lexie was pooped. While Grammy and I copied pictures to CD, Lexie and Sponge Bob sat in an oversized chair and carried on quite the animated conversation. Eventually, she tried to take a nap on the chair, with him. It was hysterical to watch. No matter how she maneuvered about and repositioned herself and Sponge Bob, she couldn't get comfortable. Her legs would hang over the edge, Sponge Bob would float back up to the ceiling, and the whole while she is just goofy and exhausted. Good stuff. Naptime finally came around 7:00pm. Very late.
Correction to previous post: Grammy pointed out to me yesterday that I mistakenly referred to Gramma Betty as Grammy in Monday's blog. I have since corrected this.
Today I'm grateful for Frank and Lexie, balloons, entertainment, audio books, 80's music, and weekends.
Tuesday, April 05, 2005
Cuz' the man from Mars won't eat bars if the TV's on.
My in box is empty, my in box is empty! For the first time in over a year and a half! TT and Carrie are having another poop discussion. The window is open. Karina has an issue with me not wearing my shoes and walking through the office. My gum just lost it's taste. Now it's in the trash can. Awesome breeze from outside. Madonna is singing 'Borderline' on the radio. TT is sorting the mail, Carrie is researching 'nursing facility crap'. Val is running the daily prints off the dot matrix. Gina is harassing Val. Lana is chuckling at something or another. My rubber band ball is larger than a baseball. Now we are discussing that Madonna is cool during this phase, but went downhill somewhere around 'Material Girl.' Now I'm listening to a message from Frank asking where Lexie's slippers are and about Charlie sleeping next to the filter intake and looking like he is dead. Now I am calling him back. Carrie smells something funny and I told her it's my feet Just told Frank the slippers are in the hamper and Charlie does sleep their. By Carrie, have fun in the rest room.
List of items we purchased at the Just a Dollar store; Frank got me a dolphin mood ring that I love, Lexie's sun glasses, Lexie's tablet of colored construction paper, two bamboo back scratchers, laser toy, non-functioning flashlight, four pairs of socks, key chain, and cat treats that they won't eat.
Word(s) of the day: XENON
Lexie log: Grammy is over playing with Lexie right now. Daddy gave her some tapioca pudding to give to her. She loves that pudding. I want to try to video tape her dancing to her favorite nursery rhyme VHS tonight. It is so cute. Last night she had chicken pieces, corn, mac an cheese, and a brownie for dinner. She is drinking out of a more grown up sippy cup now. Daddy swung her for a little bit on the back deck. She gets along famously with the cats. She climbs up on top of her changing table by herself, she also climbs into her car seat by herself. She just loves to draw with crayons. We just started the 'ribbit' game this weekend. There is a large, colorful, decorative frog decal on the living room window behind the couch. She sits on my lap and pushes my chin to that I have to look at the frog, and I tell her, "Yes, that's a frog." Then she pushes my head so that I'm facing her again, and she just stares at me for some random length of time, then she yells, "Ribbit!" and we hug each other enthusiastically. I love her so much!
Today I'm grateful for Frank and Lexie, music, laughter, video recorders, Prevacid, and empty inbox, and soup.
List of items we purchased at the Just a Dollar store; Frank got me a dolphin mood ring that I love, Lexie's sun glasses, Lexie's tablet of colored construction paper, two bamboo back scratchers, laser toy, non-functioning flashlight, four pairs of socks, key chain, and cat treats that they won't eat.
Word(s) of the day: XENON
Lexie log: Grammy is over playing with Lexie right now. Daddy gave her some tapioca pudding to give to her. She loves that pudding. I want to try to video tape her dancing to her favorite nursery rhyme VHS tonight. It is so cute. Last night she had chicken pieces, corn, mac an cheese, and a brownie for dinner. She is drinking out of a more grown up sippy cup now. Daddy swung her for a little bit on the back deck. She gets along famously with the cats. She climbs up on top of her changing table by herself, she also climbs into her car seat by herself. She just loves to draw with crayons. We just started the 'ribbit' game this weekend. There is a large, colorful, decorative frog decal on the living room window behind the couch. She sits on my lap and pushes my chin to that I have to look at the frog, and I tell her, "Yes, that's a frog." Then she pushes my head so that I'm facing her again, and she just stares at me for some random length of time, then she yells, "Ribbit!" and we hug each other enthusiastically. I love her so much!
Today I'm grateful for Frank and Lexie, music, laughter, video recorders, Prevacid, and empty inbox, and soup.
Monday, April 04, 2005
We're runnin' with the shadows of the night, so baby take my hand it'll be all right.
Coffee cart is here today! Once in a while a drug company will do a breakfast coffee cart instead of a doctor luncheon. I always am the first one in there and I almost always get an almond roca mocha. Mmmmm. Coffee is good food! The wires should be strung pretty tight today, since I had already made myself an extra strong super cup of French roast. I've already got the giggles and am spoof singing every song on our best of the 80's station. TT's either going to strangle me or join in. So far, she's laughing with.
Word(s) of the day: PROLIXITY
Lexie log: Saturday we drove into Portland to visit Gramma Betty. As we most often do, we all sat on the porch while Lexie played in the front yard. Aunt Patty comes over to play/visit, and eventually neighbor Jay comes over. He has the most outrageous, over-the-top, laugh. Lexie just loves it. She could be at any part of the yard when he would laugh, and she would stop what she was doing, turn around and laugh back at him, like some animal call. I used to live right behind Jay and Gramma Betty, we shared a gravel alley/drive. I can remember long, warm summer evenings punctuated by his laugh. When we showed up, the front yard had just been mowed. I let Heckle and Jeckle, the mallard ducks Gramma has, out of the back to explore the front yard. Lexie loves the ducks. The duck are wary of Lexie, but love to pick on Yancey (dog). Lexie is wary of Yancey (large dog), but Yancey loves to be affectionate to Lexie. Quite a circle. Eventually, the routine was for Lexie to herd the ducks through the back gate and wait until the braver one put his head down and charged her. Then Lexie would run back to the front steps screaming in mock terror mixed with delight, stop in front of us and say, "Scared'a me!". It was so funny and adorable to watch her with the ducks! After a while, she kicked around a mini soccer ball. She looks like a natural soccer player. Gramma went out to the sidewalk to sweep up the grass clippings, and Lexie was very interested in this new project. She tried to learn to use the big broom but wasn't so great with it. Instead, Gramma went inside and got her a mini sweeper with dust pan. Try as she might, she couldn't quite get the hang of the sweeper, so eventually she nixed that and just used her hands to put the grass in the dust pan. She figured out quick that this stuff was meant to go in a trash bag, so she now had a duty. At first, only 10% of what she put in the pan made it to the bag, and only50% of that actually went in the bag. After about half an hour though, she got to be pretty good. When the clippings ran out, Gramma pulled weeds and edging and kept up Lexie's supply of debri to transport. She had a good time. She was asleep within minutes of getting in the car to go home. -- Sunday we went to get movie and go to the store. Lexie and I went into Blockbuster while Daddy went over to Albertson's. I let Lexie walk on her own and she behave very well. She picked out Fox and Hound for herself, I picked Fern Gully for her, and we got Taxi and Training Day for Daddy and me. She was amazed with the oversized gumball machine at the counter. It had a clear base with a spiral ramp that the gumball rolls around and around to the dispenser slot. I couldn't resist, and not thinking clearly ahead, I put in a quarter. A giant yellow gumball noisily descended through the machine, and Lexie was thrilled. After I showed her how to retrieve it, I saw her nibble on the outside to see if it was edible but that was it as it was now our turn at the counter. Next thing I know, she has a mouth full of gooey, sticky gum and she is just chewing away blissfully. Her first gumball. She did smashingly. Only the slightest of sticky slobber when her saliva got to be too much for her. Other than that, she just chomped away on that thing for almost an hour. When she was done with it, she took it out to examine it, and then gave it to Daddy to dispose of. We walked across the parking lot to meet Daddy at a new store (to us anyway) called Just a Buck. A knock off of Dollar Tree. It was awesome. We found all kinds of neat stuff. I finally found the socks I have been searching for, and they were a dollar. Out of all the toys Lexie had to choose from, she choose a tablet of construction paper. She sure is amazing. We got her a pair of kid sized sun glasses, purple and blue. She actually let us put them on her and she wore them the whole way home. She was adorable, walking through the parking lot, smacking away at her gum with her starlet sun glasses on. Another funny thing...She cannot make it through a parking log without trying to get to each puddle. They are like magnets to her. One of us is holding tight to her hand as she is leaning all the way into each step, reaching as hard as she can pull to get to the closest puddle. It was incredible we made it both ways across the lot with her only making it to one puddle. She was like the lead dog of a sled team. I spent a good deal of time with her this weekend, and I loved it.
Today I'm grateful for Frank and Lexie, Dad and Mom, modern medicine, God, Just a Buck, wooden back scratchers, puddles, paper, Gramma and her prayers, the gym, super high thread count sheets (that hopefully some day we will own again), and ducks.
Word(s) of the day: PROLIXITY
Lexie log: Saturday we drove into Portland to visit Gramma Betty. As we most often do, we all sat on the porch while Lexie played in the front yard. Aunt Patty comes over to play/visit, and eventually neighbor Jay comes over. He has the most outrageous, over-the-top, laugh. Lexie just loves it. She could be at any part of the yard when he would laugh, and she would stop what she was doing, turn around and laugh back at him, like some animal call. I used to live right behind Jay and Gramma Betty, we shared a gravel alley/drive. I can remember long, warm summer evenings punctuated by his laugh. When we showed up, the front yard had just been mowed. I let Heckle and Jeckle, the mallard ducks Gramma has, out of the back to explore the front yard. Lexie loves the ducks. The duck are wary of Lexie, but love to pick on Yancey (dog). Lexie is wary of Yancey (large dog), but Yancey loves to be affectionate to Lexie. Quite a circle. Eventually, the routine was for Lexie to herd the ducks through the back gate and wait until the braver one put his head down and charged her. Then Lexie would run back to the front steps screaming in mock terror mixed with delight, stop in front of us and say, "Scared'a me!". It was so funny and adorable to watch her with the ducks! After a while, she kicked around a mini soccer ball. She looks like a natural soccer player. Gramma went out to the sidewalk to sweep up the grass clippings, and Lexie was very interested in this new project. She tried to learn to use the big broom but wasn't so great with it. Instead, Gramma went inside and got her a mini sweeper with dust pan. Try as she might, she couldn't quite get the hang of the sweeper, so eventually she nixed that and just used her hands to put the grass in the dust pan. She figured out quick that this stuff was meant to go in a trash bag, so she now had a duty. At first, only 10% of what she put in the pan made it to the bag, and only50% of that actually went in the bag. After about half an hour though, she got to be pretty good. When the clippings ran out, Gramma pulled weeds and edging and kept up Lexie's supply of debri to transport. She had a good time. She was asleep within minutes of getting in the car to go home. -- Sunday we went to get movie and go to the store. Lexie and I went into Blockbuster while Daddy went over to Albertson's. I let Lexie walk on her own and she behave very well. She picked out Fox and Hound for herself, I picked Fern Gully for her, and we got Taxi and Training Day for Daddy and me. She was amazed with the oversized gumball machine at the counter. It had a clear base with a spiral ramp that the gumball rolls around and around to the dispenser slot. I couldn't resist, and not thinking clearly ahead, I put in a quarter. A giant yellow gumball noisily descended through the machine, and Lexie was thrilled. After I showed her how to retrieve it, I saw her nibble on the outside to see if it was edible but that was it as it was now our turn at the counter. Next thing I know, she has a mouth full of gooey, sticky gum and she is just chewing away blissfully. Her first gumball. She did smashingly. Only the slightest of sticky slobber when her saliva got to be too much for her. Other than that, she just chomped away on that thing for almost an hour. When she was done with it, she took it out to examine it, and then gave it to Daddy to dispose of. We walked across the parking lot to meet Daddy at a new store (to us anyway) called Just a Buck. A knock off of Dollar Tree. It was awesome. We found all kinds of neat stuff. I finally found the socks I have been searching for, and they were a dollar. Out of all the toys Lexie had to choose from, she choose a tablet of construction paper. She sure is amazing. We got her a pair of kid sized sun glasses, purple and blue. She actually let us put them on her and she wore them the whole way home. She was adorable, walking through the parking lot, smacking away at her gum with her starlet sun glasses on. Another funny thing...She cannot make it through a parking log without trying to get to each puddle. They are like magnets to her. One of us is holding tight to her hand as she is leaning all the way into each step, reaching as hard as she can pull to get to the closest puddle. It was incredible we made it both ways across the lot with her only making it to one puddle. She was like the lead dog of a sled team. I spent a good deal of time with her this weekend, and I loved it.
Today I'm grateful for Frank and Lexie, Dad and Mom, modern medicine, God, Just a Buck, wooden back scratchers, puddles, paper, Gramma and her prayers, the gym, super high thread count sheets (that hopefully some day we will own again), and ducks.
Friday, April 01, 2005
Any which way but loose..
This is Paula J at the office typing Rachel's blog for today. Unfortunately, Rachel has taken seriously ill and will be out of the office until her condition improves. This blog must be very important to her however, as she left me explicit instructions to not miss a day. Who is Pookyzoo anyway? She showed me how to get to this website, gave me her login, and some insanely detailed instruction on material. She assured me that if it seems that the illness will keep her out any longer than a week, she will see what she can do to get a laptop at the hospital. As it is, she will continue to dictate the general idea for content to me during our phone chats. We spoke on the phone earlier today, and she is improving all the time. We discussed the Pope's grave condition and the Terry Schaivo situation. We are all interested in how an autopsy can show if a human is in a vegatative state when they were alive.
Word(s) of the day: SUBTERFUGE
Whatever that means.
Alexis' log: Rachel said that Alexis' cold is still the same. She is still the same adorable little angel crossed with mischief. She said that last night, they all sat around the hospital bed and watched PAX show a special on a national dog show competition with obstacle courses, high jumps, and diving. She told me that she would really like to have a Border Collie or Malamute someday, and that her husband would prefer a Jack Russel Terrier. Alexis really doesn't care, she just wants a dog. Last night was the first night in a very long time that she didn't get to have her daily bath. I went to visit them last night after she was admitted, and they all seemed to look fairly relaxed and like a loving family should be. Alexis was probably more excited about the new environment than anything.
Today Rachel is grateful for her husband and her daughter, vanilla, pillows, pudding, her family, and a good April fools laugh.
Mmmmmm...Vanilla!
Word(s) of the day: SUBTERFUGE
Whatever that means.
Alexis' log: Rachel said that Alexis' cold is still the same. She is still the same adorable little angel crossed with mischief. She said that last night, they all sat around the hospital bed and watched PAX show a special on a national dog show competition with obstacle courses, high jumps, and diving. She told me that she would really like to have a Border Collie or Malamute someday, and that her husband would prefer a Jack Russel Terrier. Alexis really doesn't care, she just wants a dog. Last night was the first night in a very long time that she didn't get to have her daily bath. I went to visit them last night after she was admitted, and they all seemed to look fairly relaxed and like a loving family should be. Alexis was probably more excited about the new environment than anything.
Today Rachel is grateful for her husband and her daughter, vanilla, pillows, pudding, her family, and a good April fools laugh.
Mmmmmm...Vanilla!
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