Here comes the rain again, Falling on my head like a memory, Falling on my head like a new emotion

Oooh, but I did miss this weather!  I love the sun and all, but a nice, warm, rain shower in scrumptious.  So at work this morning, still dusky dark outside, I have the window open listening to the morning traffic parade by, puddle by puddle, and the Friday garbage collectors trucks slamming open and shut the industrial size trash receptacles around the Hollywood District.  It’s 8:15am and commuters are still using headlights.  Warm sweet rain smell mixed with the occasional coolish breeze.  – Last day of September.  We went biking last night and learned a few things.  My bike seat wasn’t tightened enough and that was fun to find out…Cruising along at a nice pace, and FLOOP!  All the sudden my knees are slamming into my chest and I can barely pedal.  It actually would have been a lot funnier if I wasn’t so tightly wound about not having regularly/seriously biked in about five years and now I’m towing the most precious cargo, Lexie, behind me.  Frank fixed up the seat, yeah Honey, and on to the next learning aspect.  When you haven’t biked in awhile, and you’re not in peak shape anymore, pick a beginner trail, and scope it out before you hit it.  This trail was hilly, not so big a deal except that the downhills and uphills were to get to and cross…roads.  This is a inter-neighborhood trail that crosses a few side streets.  The rest of the park is elevated, but when you get to a road crossing, you have a steep slope down.  My nervousness was already peaked and it freaked me out.  Then the first uphill, I was out of practice with my gears and after coasting halfway up with momentum I went to pedal and came to a complete and sudden stop.  Anchored by Lexie, this was funny….Yeah, that’s what I mean funny.  All in all it went very smoothly and we had a good time.  Weather permitting; we’ll be doing more of that.  – It’s now 9:28 and still headlights on cars, pouring rain.  I started typing my blog right when I got in, and come back to it every once in a while to type a sentence or two, just so you all know I actually do get some work done.  I just poke my nose back in every hour or so with a new thought, then I finalize up at break.  In case you cared how I do this at work.  Ok, so now it is 10:49 and I’m on break.  Headlights still on, still raining and darkish.  – I’m having issues with my batch postings lately.  I either use a funky batch number that doesn’t make any sense, like Sunday’s date when there is no mail Sundays, or a June date instead of September.  Then when I’m done posting I’m not balanced, off by maybe eleven cents and have to audit.  Focus.

Word(s) if the day:  SCRUMPDILLYICIOUS

Lexie log:  She just loves the trailer.  She really enjoyed the ride yesterday.  Once we were done and back in the car, she was asleep in minutes.  She took a long nap too.  She didn’t wake up until 7:30 – 8:00pm.  – We’re really having fun with the mimicking thing with her.  She has a couple new catch phrases, and she says them with attitude.  It is so cute and so funny. She says, “Say what!” and, “You missed a spot, boy” (pronounced: ‘boeeee’).  Then there is the weird one…I tried to get her to say, “No you didnt!” but for some reason,  she counters with, “I don’t think so!”.  Neither Daddy nor I can figure out where she got this one.  She’s quite the little ham/actress.  We saw a commercial for an interactive karaoke, video device for kids that I think we’ll try to get her for her birthday.  It hooks up to the TV and you can see yourself and hear over the TV.  A song plays in the background that the child karaoke sings to.  That would be a blast!

Today I’m grateful for Frank and Lexie, gratitude journals, swimming, weekends, rain, pets, happiness, gum, kindness, art, photos, and peace.

I forgot to post this picture when I was doing my little run of the BoDeans concert we won tickets to last year. Frank and I are at the very back in the middle of the picture. Very intamate performance.

Don't step outta this house if that's the clothes your gonna wear, I'll kick you outta my home if you don't cut that hair...

Ok, so all my accolades and praise to Bank of America should be directly focused on their Online Banking customer service.  Their regular customer service is on my poop list.  When the NSF fees weren’t gone yesterday, I called regular cust service and the representative was a cold, uncaring, unsympathetic doodoo head that kept repeating the same answer even though it wasn’t the answer to my question.  He said that they would not refund the NSF because it was user error, not bank error.  So I kept asking for the name of the person I had spoken with and asking for some type of explanation as to why that person told me without hesitation that the fees would be waived.  He just continued to repeat that the money would not be refunded.  I let my frustrations get a grip on me and hung up on the guy.  I sure can turn into a child when I get angry.  I called back to the Online Banking customer service and got a hold of someone who said that the request was put through incorrect and that she would try again.  Still waiting.  Ooops.  – After just registering yesterday morning to the KNRK listener club, I get home and Frank tells me there is a message from Karen at KNRK.  I call back to find out that I have won one of the four or five contests I entered after I registered.  Breakfast with their morning DJ, Greg, at Whole Foods with 23 other listeners.  She (KNRK Karen) told me immediately that if I wasn’t able to make it, no problem, but I should still come down to the station and pick up my prize package.  So, I’m taking an early lunch today and I’m going to drive over to KNRK and see what’s up.  That is the second time in as many years that I have won a radio station contest by entering online via their website.  Last year, Frank and I won tickets to a private live concert for BoDeans.  – Went swimming this morning, when I was getting in the pool (86 degrees feels a lot colder than Lexie’s 90 degree lesson pool) I threw my cool-down-kickboard across the pool to my lane and it took flight and ended up on the deck next to the far wall.  I was too lazy (odd when one is supposed to be ‘working out’) to get out of the pool and go back for it, so I did my cool-down backstroke.

Word(s) of the day:  BALUGA

Lexie log:  She loves her new bike trailer!  It’s great fun.  We all went for a small bike ride last night.  We do need to get her a smaller helmet for now that fits her.  The helmet was over her eyes the whole time.  Daddy doesn’t even think she could see, but somehow she was having a blast.  Where can you get cheap, quality helmets?  We’re already planning to go for another ride this afternoon.

Today I’m grateful for Frank and Lexie, bike trailer, bikes, gears, winning contests, and happiness.

Lead singer for BoDeans 

The concert was excellent. The venue tiny and intimate. 

BoDeans live at KINKs live performance lounge. 

More Alaska pictures. This is the top deck of the boat, people looking at chunks of glacier floating in the water as we approach the glacier. 

My mind is set on overdrive, The clock is laughing in my face, A crooked spine, My sense dulled, Passed the point of delerium, On my own...here we go

Online banking dilemma last night:  Friday is payday, so I set up about five utilities and payments to be posted and released for the 30th (Friday).  Well, come to find out last night that the Progressive insurance payment was released on the 26th, two days ago, and now I have a negative balance!  I was so pissed and angry, and sad, and cried.  Frank calmed me down and suggested I try calling the bank, even though it was after 9:00pm.  Hoorah for Bank of America, they actually have real live people customer service reps available at that hour.  They told me that it was not bank error, so I must have mis-clicked, and not confirmed dates.  Bad Rachel!  I was obviously upset and the representative said they would waive the NSF fees (three of them).  Oh my goodness…$93.00 in fees! I should have had $74.00 this week until payday, but this payment went through the same day two other withdrawals did causing NSF on all of them. I am neurotically checking my bank balance, waiting for them to be removed as the phone representative said they would.  Even after they remove those, I’ll still be -$168.29 in the red until my paycheck is deposited midnight Friday.  What a pain.  – Hey, I did just discover that I could set up hotkeys for volume up and volume down on my work computers audio mixer.  I’m currently streaming 94.7 KNRK.  Still trying to figure out who General Electric is and how to get their album.  I swap between KNRK, CHARLIE, and KINK.  On occasion I go to the RIVER, and sometimes KGON.  Even been known to sample 95.5 JAMMIN to get Lexie boppin’ in the car.  – Forgot to mention that I totally screwed up a potato soup recipe I was trying in the crock-pot and after not really liking my last two pork chop attempts in said device, it is now Frank’s turn to experiment.  He has been asking for his turn since day one, but I keep jumping his turn because I was get so exited to try something.  One funky tasting pork chop meal, one bland pork chop meal, and one waste of perfectly good 16oz cheddar cheese and milk on burnt potato soup later, I guess I’ll take a break.  Crock-pot Karma… After he gets some in, I’ll do some more shredded beef enchiladas, so far my favorite right above SW chicken stew.  – Maybe the dog we get will be some type of Shepard; Australian, or White all are desirable to me.  I found some old pictures and am reminiscing about my stepmother, Margaret’s, parents German Shepards Duke and Max.  I’m looking at a picture of me and Duke that was taken back in the mid-seventies at Christmas time in Florida.

Word(s) of the day:  SHINY FLECK PLANTATION

Lexie log:  I forgot to mention that Grammy got her a couple new outfits Monday.  Two of them are pajammies and I put her in one last night after her bath.  It’s so darned soft that she becomes my favorite stuffed animal.  Whoever invented pajama material like that should be rich.  – I hear the weather will be taking a turn for the worse, so hopefully we will get out and try the bike trailer tonight.  Too lazy last night.  Lexie had just gone down for a nap when I got home so I crawled in next to her, and by the time we got up (her before me) it was getting late, and I knew there wouldn’t be enough light to stay out as long as Lexie would want to without throwing a fit.  Did I mention that I’m practicing for the world competition for longest run-on sentence?

I almost forgot to be grateful today, published this first without my gratitude list.

Today I’m grateful for Frank and Lexie, Bank of America and it’s compassionate reps and super service hours, nectarines (not the white ones so much though), streaming music, hotkeys, breading, animation, music, movies, Blockbuster, and camping.

Fish. 

Grammy and Lexie at the Anchorage zoo. 

Well we went down, Down to the pound and that's were we saw Maceo, Cat catcher said to me "Go ahead and pick one out" Maceo said "Let me out".

Ok, so the inner diablogue is much louder in the pool.  I forgot this yesterday as I typed about the commute in.  I haven’t been to my morning laps in over a week, yesterday I was supposed to go back, but for some stupid butt reason, I have the hardest time hearing the 4:00am alarm.  So last night I turned off all other alarms but the 4:00 am and put the darned phone right in the bedroom.  The minutes I got halfway across the pool it was almost as if my brain was yelling instead of mumbling in the background.  Something about pool makes my brain like an echo chamber.  The difference between the pool and the car is that in the pool I go over plans and lists for the Portland to Coast and other healthy activities.  Also, I noticed that the moment I got in the car, I switched on the radio.  – Frank filled the bike tires yesterday afternoon, we picked up the Burley trailer, which fit perfect in the trunk, and I rode a few laps of the court.  Haven’t hooked up the trailer yet, it was already after 6:00pm when we got home.  

Word(s) of the day:  BOGUS CALIBRATION

Lexie log:  Once again, she loved going out to the Chehalem Mountain Ranch.  Grammy came over for her Monday visit.  They (Grammy, Lexie, and Daddy) went to Fred Meyers for some grocery/clothes shopping, and then had lunch.  When I got home, we drove out to pick up the Burley trailer.  I tried calling three or four times before we got there, but no one ever answered.  We went anyway, because last Friday we told them, ‘Monday afternoon’, so we figured they should be expecting us.  When we drove up, Rudy was repairing some shell of a camper top and didn’t move an inch except to wave to us.  We could see the three girls up the road a piece with the dog Cooper, and then Chase, who had been wandering in front, was now standing still as a statue.  We parked, woke Lexie up (she had just fallen asleep) and stood in the drive way.  Chase took off inside and emerged back out with some type of miniature shotgun/rifle.  He moved around slow and quit, scaring the crap out of us.  Lexie started to joyfully make her way down the drive and I called out to her to stop and wait for us.  Daddy called out to Chase and asked if everything was ok, and he said yes as he raised the gun towards a stump in the middle of the yard.  An unexpectedly quiet ‘pop’ discharged from the gun, and the mood lightened.  Apparently there was a gopher that just had his life extended by poor aim.  Later, Rudy explained that they’ve been handed there walking papers and if it was as easy as packing their bags for him, they’d do it.  On this visit, we discovered a pot-bellied pig off in the distance.  After we got the Burley in the trunk, Rudy went over to their fence and pulled off a few bunches of grapes.  He called the pigs over, “Here pig!” and they came running like dogs.  This tickled Lexie (and Mommy and Daddy) and also frightened her a bit.  We spent the next 10 – 15 minutes watching the pigs eat grapes and chatting about the pigs and dogs.  It sure would be nice to live there.  A lot of work, but gratifying work.  I even wish we could take Lexie out for a visit sometimes.  She enjoyed it.  – She never did take a nap yesterday.

Today I’m grateful for Frank and Lexie, fruit, water, Grammy, socks, stuff, dogs, cats, birds, kindness, noodles, flexibility, smiles, happiness, empty Jacuzzi all to myself at 5:00am, and boxes.

Edelweiss, Edelweiss, Every monring you greet me, Small and White, clean and bright, You look happy to meet me.

The inner blog… Every once in a while I’m hyper-conscious of my inner dialogue.  It used to mostly sound like conversations, but I’ve noticed lately that it’s starting to sound like a story line.  I’m starting to blog internally.  So…now my inner dialogue keeps track of what I want to write as well as lists upon lists of things to do, achieve, remember.  Yackity Yack, don’t talk back!  Seems like there is some truth to attaining a semblance of peace when you are able to tune out the ‘dialogue’.  On my way to work most mornings I listen to the radio after about 10 – 15 minutes of reflecting on life.  Seems the morning commute is about the only time for this.  Mondays is usually no radio, all reflection.  Shuttling down the highway at a nice clip in a cozy warm car at dawn internally blogging the whole weekend.  Ah, I love weekends.  Found some pictures from spring 2002 of Frank and I camping at Beacon rock when I was just pregnant with Lexie. – Strange thing, I somehow got it in my head that ‘harf’ is a word, but I don’t know why, where I got it from, and it isn’t in the dictionary.  It popped into my head this morning and I was going to use it as the word of the day, but I guess it isn’t a word.  Is that strange?  I feel like it should be a verb that means something like coughing, hacking, or something to do with dogs, cats, and fur balls.  – Wowzers! What’s this?  The Paradox of Self-Amendment?  

Word(s) of the day:  NOMIC

Lexie log:  Friday after work Lexie, Daddy, and I drove out to take a looksie at the Burley bike trailer.  It just so happens that the people getting rid of it own/operate the Chehalem Mountain Ranch.  What a treat for Lexie.  And we get to go back today to pick up the trailer.  Lexie loved being there from the start.  She loved Cooper the Australian Shepard, and then when she finally got focused and got in the trailer, she didn’t want to get back out.  They (Shannon and Rudy) threw in a helmet that fits her!  The way we ‘convinced’ her to get out of the trailer was to take her into the stables and show her a pony.  She was so excited she couldn’t stand still.  She just kept tiptoeing around, and squealing with glee.  When we finally got back to the car she put up a storm front tantrum.  This girl loves horses.  – Saturday we worked around the house, took some stuff to Good Will, returned cans, put the tent down, cleaned the tarps, and had a home day.  – Sunday was the first swim lesson.  One of the best gifts in the world!  A little slice of heaven.  Sitting in a 90 degree pool watching Lexie and two other three year old kids ( Matt and Kendle) be taught by a teacher who is obviously good with kids.  One of the wonderful parts is that in this environment she will take instruction but with Daddy or me, or even grandparents, she doesn’t.  Teacher AJ was able to get goggles and flippers on her without a fuss.  She sat and listened and watched the other two and what they did.  She followed his instructions, and before we knew it, she had water ‘rings’ on both arms, and was swimming around chasing balls.  Oh, I tell you it was heaven.  Awesome, wonderful, wish we could do it every day.  Can’t wait for Grandparents to come share the joy.  They have an observation room, so if you don’t want to sit on the deck of the pool, you can watch from there.  When I was thinking about it this morning on the way to work I had some far off memories of learning to swim with my uncle Mark in the pool at Sierra Dawn, my Grandparents retirement community in Hemet, California.  – We spent a lot of in-between time taking turns reading whichever book she brought us.  She’s really eating up the reading thing now.  Another awesome weekend.

Today I’m grateful for Frank and Lexie, Uncle Mark, Children of the Sea, Chehalem Mountain Ranch, Chris, Steve, Sue, Fred and their families, Mom and Dad, Jan, Val, Carrie, Kathie, Lana, Debbie, the kitties, weekends, and apple gum.

The Burley we're going to go take a look at tonight. Thanks to Michelle for doing the legwork on this and forwarding me the link to this Craigslist find. Let's hope it's a good one. 

Our new trailer? 

Back to the howling old owl in the woods, Hunting the horny back toad, Oh I've finally decided my future lies, Beyond the yellow brick road

We’re going to take a look at the 1990 Burley bike trailer tonight.  $75.00.  The lady says it’s been in storage for ten years and it needs a lot of cleaning, but other than that it’s great.  Frank and I figure some bleach and our hand held steamer and it should do the trick.  All the other older Burleys are selling for $175.00 plus.  This seems to be the top of the line manufacturer.  The starting bid for a new, lesser brand name on e-bay is over a hundred with shipping.  I put a ‘wanted’ poster in the lunchroom and a couple girls at work are taking copies home to their apartment bulletins, but I’m pretty sure we’ll get this one.  

Word(s) of the day: ARMADILLO

Lexie log:  I shed a tear for her innocence yesterday.  We went on a nice walk after work to a dilapidated old park in the shadow wood neighborhood.  It used to be maintained with funds for the homeowners dues, but I think the neighborhood has long since disassociated the homeowners association.  Anywhoo, Lexie didn’t seem to know the difference, we played on the swings, her first ‘real’ swing – not a basket swing.  The whole time we were there, across the street a group of five boys age ranging from approx. five to ten years old, were having the normal leadership/power struggles.  The oldest seeming to really need to be ‘the boss’.  Lexie had pretty much had her fill of the playground, but didn’t want to leave.  The boys managed to creep over to our side of the street during their heated discussion of baseball cards.  Lexie’s little innocent face beamed at the thought of making new friends and she looked at me and said, “Say hi, Momma?”.  I smiled back at her and encouraged her to go ahead and say hi to them.  Now exactly what is a 2 ½ little girl to a group of pre-pubescent boys?  Something reminiscent of ‘Cooties’ comes to mind.  Something not to be trifled with.  Lexie’s age is still all loving and friendly.  As I watched her continually wave at them and say ‘hi’ in the sweetest voice ever to enter my ears, a couple tears rolled down my checks, as they foreseeably ignored her.  They must have been afraid that she would insist on playing with them. They loitered their way back across the street except for one younger one who was up in a tree.  Lexie beckoned me to come over to her and help her say hi, and now as an afterthought I really wish I had.  I didn’t give her any backup, and I’m not sure why.  She waved and waved up to the boy in the tree calling out, “hi” to him, but he never acknowledged her even though he knew she was there.  Later when I told Frank, he said he would have gone over with her so that they would have at least said hi, I wish I had.  She’ll never remember it, but I’ll never forget it.  The edge of innocence.  Next time I will go and say hi too.  No reason a 34 year old can’t walk up to a group of kids and give them a polite greeting. Oh wicked hormones, givest thee a break.  A tear creeps to the brim as I recollect.  – On another note…I’m really excited about the future possibility of a sibling for Lex, but I’m starting to get those odd feelings like how can it be possible to spread the intense love I have for her to another child…

Today I’m grateful for Frank and Lexie, the cats, coffee, walks, sunshine, water, swimming lessons, and weekends.

Fee, fie, fiddle-e-i-o. Fee, fie, fiddle-e-i-o-o-o-o. Fee, fie, fiddle-e-i-o. Strumming on the old banjo.

Well, looks like the new season of LOST will be good.  Great first episode.  -- Now we are looking at camping at Ft. Stevens next Memorial Day.  Should be awesome.  We’ll have to break out the mountain bikes.  We’ll bring Lexie’s tricycle, but in the mean time we’re going to keep our eye out for a good deal on a bike trailer for her to ride in.  I think she’d really enjoy that, and it might help us get back out on our bikes (since we really can’t go without her now).  

Word(s) of the day:  LIBERACE’S CHILD

Lexie log:  She loves her new horse stick rider thingy. (Thanks Carrie)  She galloped around the house all evening, begging me to continually make the horse gallop noise with my hands and legs.  – Also, she really does love this Stitch toy from McDonald’s we got a couple weeks back.  She lost it at Albertson’s yesterday, and I had (well, not had, but ….) to go see if I could get another last night.  I drove up to McDonalds at 8:33pm and went inside.  The lady behind the counter (Heather) first looked in all the happy meal boxes, then went into some back room where the drive through clerks are stationed.  She came back with the ‘last one’.  She said that the lady who she changes shift for always keeps the very last toy, “…just in case.”  So, Lexie got back her current favorite toy.  I like it too.

Today I’m grateful for Frank and Lexie, LOST, good friends, turkey burgers a la Keller, humor, Heather and the clerk who saves the last toy, water, and stickers.

I'd like to teach the world to sing in perfect harmony...

It is so weird to be on eavesdropping on other people talking about how and why they’re fine without having children. I sooooo used to be saying that. “Like being able to do my own thing” etc. etc. It’s just odd… -- Yesterday, what a horrible, horrible day. After arguing with best friends, on to arguing with Mom. Then feeling sorry for myself for no Chipotle. The day just was nasty. Finish up the day with a nice argument with hubby. Is there something wrong with me, or is it just the recent full moon. I’m really hoping for a clean slate today, but I’m in a rather funky mood. – The new show ‘Earl’ was hilarious. – Fire alarm just went off because of Barb's bagel burning in the conference room toaster. I guess I just don’t have much to say today.

Word(s) of the day: OVERACTIVE LACRIMAL GLAND

Lexie log: I sure do love her. We sat on the couch and watched Monsters Inc. last night. Daddy wasn’t feeling to well and went to bed early before us, so it was girl TV night. We also went on a short walk around the court to look at the moon and the stars. We watched a small airplane’s fly directly over the court, first just a pair of flashing lights, one red and one green. Then we could actually make out the whole plane as it flew right over us. As usual, she jumped up and down with her arms outstretched to the plane, trying to touch it. Such a cutie.

Today I’m grateful for Frank and Lexie, Mom and Dad, Betty and Patty, my kitties, my friends, water, vegetables, fruits, and tranquility with a sprinkle of peace.

Don't get me wrong, if I split like light refracted, I'm only off to wander, Across a moonlit mile...

Today didn’t start off any better…It took me 40 minutes to get 5 miles on Sunset Highway.  I was 37 minutes late for work.  $20.00 of gas filled my tank up to half!  Hostile email confrontation with one of my oldest and bestest friends.  What next?  -- We watched ‘Surface’ last night.  Looks like another hopeful.  Nothing to compare with Lost though.  --   We have another two confirmed team members for or Portland to Coast relay team.  That’s positive.  --  I can’t get the damned camping thing out of my head though.  It’s taking every ounce of tranquility I can muster to not give a dissertation on how I feel about this.  --  Ok, another drop in the bucket.  A couple weeks ago I introduced Carrie to Chipotle’s and now the whole darned office is ordering for lunch and I can’t.  Wah wah wah.  I need a Waaahambulance!  -- Apparently its ‘hackles’ not ‘cackles’, I am obviously going to be a virgin dog owner.  I better do some studying.  I hope it’s not too hard to find an Akita puppy next spring…

Word(s) of the day:  ASK THE ETHER

Lexie log:  She got her new PowerBook Sponge Bob and Blue’s Clues.  Thanks to Grammy!  Another huge thing…Lexie starts swim lessons next Sunday!  I am sooooo excited.  The classes should be very good as the school has booths at the annual kids convention and in the Northwest Kids magazine.  It will be every Sunday until Christmas, starting next weekend.  Actually, we missed the first class last Sunday and they prorated the fee.  Thanks again Grammy!  

Today I’m grateful for Frank and Lexie, all my friends, The Incredibles, toys from Carrie, and stuff, not just physical stuff…all stuff, emotional too.

Lexie runs out of the rabbit hole into Wonderland 

Lexie running through story book lane. 

Lexie on the Frog Hop ride. 

Lexie running out of Hansel and Grettel's house 

View from camp. Tracy, Lexie, and Lucas tromping about. 

Michelle, Isabella and Lexie walking down the boat ramp next to camp. 

Lexie and Isabella in our camping chairs Sunday morning at Michelle and Mikes camping spot. 

Never was a cornflake girl, though that was a good solution, Hangin' with the raisin girls...

Meeting Friday was decent.  I really hope we can migrate to CyberQuery.  Made my mouth water in a report writer, data gathering, geeky sort of way.  There was only one part of the meeting I was zoning out on.  The presentation on PowerChart.  It was just too busy, and didn’t seem to directly affect me.  I would be amazed if our docs would agree to use it, and I don’t see it being useful if misused.  There must be an easier, streamlined, idea out there.  My goodness the amount of buttons on the toolbar was frightening for anybody with cyberphobia.  It just seemed like so much more work than what they do now. --  I am having a hard time adjusting to working after such an awesome weekend.  Details in Lexie log.  It really is hard to come back to work Mondays…

Word(s) of the day:  WASPISH, SNAPPISH, PETULANT, and PETTISHLY DYSPEPTIC

Lexie log:  Saturday we went to Gramma Betty’s and played.  The best part was Lexie taking Pete for a walk.  We walked around two blocks. Lexie held Pete’s leash tight, I put her wrist through the loop and then had her hang on tight to the strap.  She took this job very seriously.  She did not want him to tarry too long at one spot, and if he looked like he was heading for the street in the driveways, she would tell him sternly to stay out of the street.  I stayed close with Lexie while Gramma Betty and Daddy walked Yancey behind us.  At one point on a corner, a squirrel jumped out of a bush, skittered across the sidewalk and raced up a telephone pole.  This sent Pete racing for the pole with Lexie in tow.  She let go of his leash, after she hit the pavement.  She was pretty upset about Pete getting away from her, but no harm.  Then we rounded the corner to where Frank and I used to live and caught up with Leondre.  Haven’t seen him in a few years and he still looks as gangsta as ever.  In fact, one of the last memories I have of him is when he showed up on the porch, sat on the couch with an enormous amount of lip-gloss on, and just acted bizarre.  So this time, he’s sitting in the passenger seat of a car outside the front of his house and the smell of pot is wafting on the air.  Pete goes berserk, bearing his teeth, growling, barking, cackles raised.  It was all we could do to just get him passed.  Mildly adventurous dog walk.  Lexie just loved it, so did I.  --  Yesterday was one of the best days ever!  Grammy and GrampaDad took us to Enchanted Forest.  We all had such a blast.  Lexie went on everything her height would allow.  Her and I both rode The Ice Mountain Bobsled roller coaster together.  Grammy, Lexie and I went through the haunted house.  Lexie ended up in my arms with a choke hold on my neck as I held on tight to the back of Grammy’s t-shirt.  Lexie loved the bumper boats, kiddy Ferris wheel, frog hopper, the shoe slide and especially the roller coaster and story book lane.  Oh I couldn’t have asked for a better time.  I’m having fun withdrawals here at work.  I can’t wait to go look at the pictures tonight.  I would type more stories, but lunch is over and I’m out of time for the day. I really need to post camping and Enchanted Forest pictures.  I’ve been having some issue with ‘Hello’ lately.

Today I’m grateful for Frank and Lexie, Enchanted Forest, Grammy and GrampaDad, weekends, fun, fresh vegetables, and music.

And tell me, did Venus blow your mind, Was it everything you wanted to find, And did you miss me while you were looking for yourself out there...

Oh my God do I wish we had a tent trailer now.  Sounds like so much fun to go winter camping with Michelle, Mike, Tracy and Dana.  My new wish list:  Akita (preferably Shepard colored or black), tent trailer, target $7.00 tiny purse, to become pregnant in the next year, winter boots and clothes for Lexie, more PowerTouch books for Lexie, a massage chair, swimming lessons for Lexie, coder training, a rock tumbler for Frank, a portable cutting board with a built in cheese/salami slicer, and a Vitamix.  

Frank is going to make a mobile from some of the smaller driftwood pieces we’ve collected over the years.  I think it might even be great over by what I call the ‘aviary’ area of our yard with the arbor.  When he was talking about it last night it gave me the idea of making a wind chime using a piece of driftwood for the hanging base, and then maybe some thing, smooth, (using a tumbler) rocks as the chimes.  I wonder how hard it would be to successfully drill tiny holes in the rocks.  Well, there’s a project.

I was going to stay a half hour later at work and follow Jan to Costco and get executive cards (She was going to front our half of the annual fee), but apparently her dental appointment didn’t go so well, so she didn’t show up for work today.  The extra half hour was supposed to help towards the three hours I’ll miss tomorrow since the Cerner Prism meeting in Tigard doesn’t last a full eight hours.  Then on top of it, I was late because of traffic and random tardiness.  Never a full paycheck.  What is the dealio with that!?

Word(s) of the day:  SMITHEREENS

Lexie log:  We ran and ran around Albertson’s last night.  She was just tickled to be chased around the aisle.  I don’t even feel silly about it.  Puts a smile on people’s faces.  Just hearing her giggle is worth it.  --  She’s getting over the nightmare thing.  I mean, really, she’s had bad dreams before, but this was a doozy.  Grammy even offered to come over after work to assure Lex everything is ok, but I think she can wait until Sunday.  Yes, Sunday we will actually make her first visit to Enchanted Forest.  Sooo excited.

Today I’m grateful for Frank and Lexie, Detroit Lake, water, pineapple, plants, coupons, rainbows, friends, cats, future dog, future baby, and twinkle toes.

Dream weaver, I believe we can make it through the night...

Now I’m a little angry with this word editor, or more so, the lack of education I have of its nuances.  Monday and Tuesday posts never showed up except on my local machine and I didn’t find out until yesterday afternoon on the way home.  So I spent time (about 20 minutes trying to figure out what the dealio is and my only guess is that it has to do with copy and pasting into dialogue boxes, and/or excessive formatting to transfer/translate.  I think I’ve got it worked out, but I’m not even sure yet.  Now it looks like I did both days posts on today, and I’m not even sure it’s going to work yet.  If you get this, send me a comment, please.  I’m a little frustrated.  Just even to test it out, I changed Monday’s title to ‘I’m Mad’, and now it won’t let me edit to change it back. I keep getting browser send request error messages.  Umph!

Ok, so, with that off my chest, and only the tiniest chip on my shoulder…

Updated list of favs:  Cake, Jane’s Addiction, Rolling Stones, Sublime, Beck, and Black Eyed Peas.

Ok, so I had this strange dream that I was four weeks pregnant with a little boy and we were already huge and he was kicking and moving around…And then the weird part.  Frank and I were having all these issues with a fire alarm drill in some place that looked like a mall, and everyone doing the wrong thing with using elevators and going the wrong direction.  Then for some reason Brad Pitt is working at the McDonald’s we’re trying to get to that’s under construction and in some weird place amidst all the curving overpasses in the industrial district on the East side of the Willamette where I-84, I-5, and 405 all connect.  Mr. Pitt can’t grill a burger well at all; the damn thing is pretty much still raw hamburger.  And then I wake up.  Analyze that.

Word(s) of the day:  FERSHIMMELED

Lexie log:  Poor little angel woke up from a terrible nightmare this morning crying.  I was in the kitchen getting ready and heard her scared and crying.  Daddy was comforting her, and then when she realized I was still home, she came sobbing into the kitchen where I scooped her up and asked her what was wrong.  In a very sleepy, sad voice she kept repeating that Grammy was bad. At some point she also said she was sick, and we got the overall impression that the nightmare had something to do with Grammy getting hurt or sick.  I called Grammy’s cell phone on the way to work and left her a message to call Lexie at lunch.  Last night, right before bed, she really wanted to talk to Grammy so I let her call, even though I was pretty sure she’d be asleep.  She was awake, and they had a cute conversation.  Then we crawled into bed and slept.

Today I’m grateful for Frank and Lexie, my co-workers, my job, can openers, staple removers, fairies, art, water, and weekends.

Come away with me in the night...

I just love that song.  KINK seems to play it almost every morning just as I’m getting on to Sunset Highway.  It’s a perfect morning drive to work song.

Some things that are fun to discuss at my work:  Funny diagnosis, funny names, funny phone calls, and funny strangers that pass through, sound effects…they’re the very bestest most funnest.  Not so fun things to discuss at my work:  Not balancing on a large payment batch, Incredibly pissed off rude patients, really inept and brainless insurance companies and the representatives who represent them, employees who spend 99.9% of their time either dramatically complaining about anything or describing the many imagined ways that they are useful and a wonderful asset to the business office.  Those of you who read this at my place of business know to whom I am referring.

Some things I forgot to mention about the camping trip, I’m sure, will trickle into the blog as they pop into my head.  One is that I seem to have found a new pastime to fritter away the moments…Pipe cleaner art!  My mom got Lexie a bag of colored pipe cleaners last week, and on a whim I decided to pack them for the trip.  At some point the green and red colored ones called to me and I made a flower for Lexie, then a big black spider (which she enjoyed most), a sun (in celebration of our weather), and a butterfly that most people think is a bumblebee (excluding the highly intelligent co-campers who identified it just fine.) (Oh, and Carrie didn’t even get to see it, so I can’t berate her either.) Another thing, the generosity of Michelle and Mike keeps on giving.  I’m still having awesome leftover homemade chicken noodle soup for lunch (all gone after today), along with countless other goodies.  Thanks guys!

Really odd thing just happened…Val asked me how to spell anxiously, and before I gave her the correct spelling, I jokingly gave her ‘Angkshuslee’, and ever since then, I am misspelling everything I type.  Soup is soop, leftover is leftwoer, and on and on.

Word(s) of the day:  FRICASSEE

Lexie log:  Grammy came over yesterday and pulled out the power touch book.  At first they thought it was broken because they were using a book without the correct reader card.  Once I found this out (after Grammy left of course) I got it set up for Lexie, and boy was I impressed!  She hasn’t played with this toy in about six months, and the difference is amazing.  She knows how to use it now, and the number of things she recognizes blew me away.  I asked her where the number six was and she pointed it out.  Her favorite is the ‘Brown Scary Tree’ in the “I SPY” book.  Right now she only has two working books, so I think we will work on getting her many more.  I looked and they have Sponge Bob (her favorite), Blue’s Clues, and a bunch more she’ll love.  Down side is they cost about $15.00 bucks a shot, which is a little steep.  Maybe we’ll try to get one a month, they sure seem to be good for her.  --  Man!  There was something else I wanted to log about Lexie, and it’s left my brain.  Oh well, lunch is over and I have batches to post.

Today I’m grateful for Frank and Lexie, Grammy, coupons, fun stuff, laughter, not being hungry, fruit, the moment, and angels.

Please swallow your pride, If I have things that you need to borrow, For no one can fill those of your needs, that you don't let show

Why didn’t Microsoft ever bother to put a timestamp display on the error dialogue boxes that pop up?  The flippin event viewer is already cryptic enough and I find it next to useless in trouble shooting situations.  What gets me is that on Monday mornings when I go back to the sever room 90% of the time there is some dialogue box informing me of some failure or another, but I have no idea when it happened – how long the problem has existed, arrgh!  

It’s freakin’ cold in here!  Usually it is in the mid seventies in the office, but this morning it wasn’t even sixty-eight when I got in.

Oh what a great camp trip.  Even with the downpours and showing up after dark Friday, we still enjoyed ourselves immensely.  I just love camping, and camping with tremendously good company just tops the cake.  We got the mandatory late start that all experienced campers are required to have. Planned to have all campers and equipment in the car and the car headed south by 4:30.  Of course last minute packing, shopping, etc turned it into after 6:00pm.  By the time we were on the highway for 45 minutes, I was falling asleep at the wheel (from packing late the night before) and Frank had to take over.  I don’t relieve driving duties lightly.  I have been the driver for the past five plus years and I feel nervous, tense and physically awkward in any passenger seat.  Then right around Mill City, the sky turned a dark pink and five minutes later sheets of rain pouring down.  Literally moments before we turned into the campground, the downpour lightened.  We raced through the check-in procedure and found Mike and Michelle.  They helped us put up the wonderfully amazing screen tent, I started to put the little tent inside, but changed my mind and decided to have a big waterproof tent.  It worked just fine.  We went over and had Oktoberfest bratwurst, and sat around the fire.  The first night was cold for me, so Saturday night we changed the bedding layout and Michelle and Mike loaned us a comforter.  Saturday morning they made us the hugest wonderful omelets and we lazed about with coffee until it was officially naptime.  After Lexie threw a fit, we all lay down and slowly fell asleep.  Dana, Tracy, Sierra, Lucas, and Rosie showed up and officially rang out naptime.  We spent the rest of the day eating and watching the kids play (including Rosie and Isabella), walking around, sitting around the fire, telling stories, and laughing.  Watching Sierra talk about “The OC” and music was great.  Reminiscing with Tracy about our youth was funny and happy.  After the movie, we sat for a couple hours getting to know Mike and Michelle, which too - was awesome.  We are grateful to have met two marvelous people we can consider friends, Tracy sure does have good taste.  I hope the bunch of us can get together more often. The next day was gorgeous weather and we slowly broke camp after coffee.  Frank was my knight in shining armor.  I was trying to get up to the showers right when Lexie woke up, and she is not a morning kiddo.  She wanted to go with me, so I brought her, but then she didn’t want to be there, and well, she was just cranky and making it impossible for me to get anything done.  Frank came to the rescue and got her all dressed and ready, and waited for us. Soaking up the sun and slowly organizing and breaking down tents, we decided we would no longer do the foam pad.  Next trip we will invest in an air mattress.  So I walked up to the dumpster with the old foam pad, and saw the camp neighbors from the other side throwing away both their tents.  I went back down and told the group and Michelle recollected they got here shortly before us and the mom and kids stayed in the Durango and made the dad pitch tents.  I remembered that they never looked like they were camping, all dressed like going to school or dinner.  We went up and snagged the tents.  Turns out that one is now ours.  I asked them why they were being tossed and the wife replied that it had ‘some weird leak’, and that they would just go get bigger ones.  After pitching this 17” X 10” X 12” tent I discovered that they had somehow screwed up the door zipper leaving an inch gap that probably was the ‘weird leak’.  Took me about two minutes to fix it.  Brought it home and it’s set up in the back waiting for camp dry.  The only downside is that we weren’t able to locate the rain guard and it has large screen mesh.  It appears to be a Coleman Red Canyon after marketed for Wal-Mart.  If we can’t find an exact match we’ll just have to improvise for rainy weather. In the long run, we’d like to follow Tracy, Dana, Michelle, and Mike’s plan to get a tent trailer. Late Saturday night we sat around the campfire and talked.  Frank, Mike, and Michelle had smores, I’m not much of a marshmallow fan.  The, they made us the most amazing like individual cherry pies using a pie iron.  That is one terrific invention. The trip was a blast and it’s only unfortunate that it appears to be the end to warm camping season.  I can’t say enough about Mike and Michelle’s hospitality.

I love my new Word blog editor tool.  This is great!

I am so blessed!  Prayers to Katrina victims, Jan’s aunt, and to keep all safe from Ophelia.

What a strange catalogue


Word(s) of the day:  COPIOUS PRECIPITATION

Lexie log:  Oh what a cutie!  I just now looked up and noticed that six of the pictures I have on one of my cube walls I look at the most are of camping at Detroit Lake August 2004.  One of Lexie looking at the ducks in our site, another of Lexie and Frank sitting next to each other in our camping chairs, Lexie at the edge of the lake looking at the water, Lexie in the RV, Lexie crouched by a puddle ‘bathing’ her kitty toy, and Lexie in her swim suit arranging rocks on one of the cement stop blocks.  Also three more pictures from when we spent the day in July.  She had a great time this time too.  She really loved her new aunt Michelle and uncle Mike.  I’m so glad Tracy, Dana, Lucas and Sierra showed up Saturday and stayed until way after Lexie went to bed.  They showed up right as we were all laying down for a nap and when she woke up, she played with Lucas and Alyssa all afternoon.  Ok, since I just can’t get over it, the whole Alyssa thing really opened my eyes on so many levels.  Here’s the dealio (As Daddy would say); Late Friday night while we were all sitting around the fire, another family showed up at the site across from Michelle and Mikes.  The next morning we found that the family had three kids; two older boys and a seven-year-old girl – Alyssa.  As soon as Alyssa and Lexie discovered each other, they started to play.  Alyssa came over and introduced herself and the three of us walked the loop.  I was a little uncomfortable when Alyssa kept jumping off this wall that was twice as high as Lexie and watching Lexie contemplate if she should follow her lead.  After a while of playing catch with them, the adult part of me lost interest and after talking for a while with Alyssa’s mother Shaylan, I went back over to our spots.  Then, a short while later, emotion number one reared its ugly head.  I found a little ugly jealousy that I was not the center of my precious daughters world anymore.  Now, this is nothing new, but usually when she plays with other kids, they are closer to the same age, and this girl is seven.  Something about having her look up to an older girl with adoration similar to how she looks up to me really hit a nerve.  Now this was PookyMonsterSyndrome weekend, so emotions are at the brink of the levy anyway.  So, I’m trying to ‘cope’ and not be so embarrassingly obvious to the rest of the group (and of course I’m also busily taking it out on Daddy) so I start to ‘check’ my self and talk it out with Daddy and aunt Tracy.  I realize quick on, that this is a selfish issue and that Lexie needs all the love she can get, and really, it’s about her having fun, not me being the center of her world.  So, with that ammunition, I carry on with a positive attitude.  Then this other weird thing happens…I remember my report cards from Montessori that spoke of a concern over a relationship I had with an older girl named Teresa and how she was too controlling over me.  I read these report cards so many times growing up that I really have them committed to memory.  The instructors wrote about how I didn’t spend enough time with children my own age and that Teresa was easily able to manipulate and control me.  We were about the same age as Lex and Alyssa, and at first I thought I was transposing my own past on Lex, (bad Mommy!) but the more I paid attention, the more I saw what was going on.  I felt some sympathy for Alyssa who had only two older brothers, and she really did want another little girl to play with.  But there was something else.  We, meaning Daddy, myself, and Mike, Michelle, and Dana, all told Alyssa in plain words that Lucas and Lexie needed to stay in our sites or in the field/beach we looked out over, so that we could keep an eye on them.  I watched really closely and Alyssa kept trying to get Lex to follow her back to her camp. Then I heard Lex over at Alyssa site asking to see her Daddy, and when I looked over, Alyssa had her arm and was pulling her back, keeping her from coming back over.  That set me off, and I was ‘eagle eyes’ with the two of them the rest of the day.  At some point Alyssa’s dominating attitude seemed to mellow out Lexie’s adoration, and she wanted to come back over and play with Lucas and Mommy.  Then it was really more of an issue of letting Alyssa know that she was welcomed over in our area to play, but that Lexie needed to stay.  Alyssa kept trying to tell me that she was sure that Lexie would follow her back, but it kept not happening.  I finally asked her if she was standing there because she wanted her to follow her, and she said yes.  Even when Lexie would try to run over to Lucas to play, Alyssa would grab hold over her and pull her the other way.  Eventually, it was movie time, and we all went over and watched Aladdin.  Lexie and Lucas sat next to each other and shared a blanket.  Lucas kept making Lexie laugh, Lexie would sing to all the musical parts, and we sat outdoors in the covered theater while it poured.  It was so awesome!  Lexie fell asleep in my arms shortly after we got back to camp, and we laid her down to sleep in the tent.  The next day was gorgeous, and after a morning shower, she ran around camp, spending time with Mike, Michelle, and Isabella, ate lots of wonderful junk food, and just played.  She feed the ducks and seagulls, chased chipmunks, watched boats, splashed in mud puddles, threw rocks in the lake and in general had a great time.

Today I’m grateful for Frank and Lexie, Michelle and Mike and Isabella, camping, Oregon and Detroit Lake, good finds, weekends, water, scissors, vitamins, and pie irons.

The view from the car waiting from the tunnel from Whittier back towards Anchorage. 

The tent we used camping this weekend with my Dad in front of it. Thanks Mom and Dad, it was awesome. 

There's somethin' happenin' here, What it is ain't exactly clear, There's a man with a gun, over there, Tellin' me I got to beware

I miss Felix the cat.  I think of him every day, and today I am just more melancholy for his head bumps, purrs, and love.  Ok, camping trip starts in two and a half hours!  I just opened a fortune cookie and the fortune reads, “You are given the chance to take part in an exciting adventure.”  How polite that I be given the chance instead of just having no choice but to take part.  I wonder…Does the fortune still come true even if you don’t eat the cookie?  What if I give the cookie to someone else?  I don’t like fortune cookies; they just don’t do anything for me.   --  New feature to Blog is a word editor.  So far I love it!  I was beginning to have many problems, both in Mozilla and IE with not being able to complete an open post.  This gives me so much more freedom.  I was actually searching for the download to prevent ad spam comments.  Every so often I am deluged with them, and it’s quite annoying.  --  We stayed up past midnight last night packing the car for the trip.  -- Prayer for Jan’s Auntie.  -- Yesterday I got email from the Hood to Coast people thanking me for volunteering for the 2005 relay and he/she said that the 400 team limit for walkers is never full in October so we should be all set.  -- I think the United States Postal Service should change it’s color from blue to purple.

Word(s) of the day:  GELATINOUS GOO

Lexie log:  Lexie got a hold of the platform cherry flip flops that Jan gave me from her Vegas trip.  She has never worn flip flops before, the one time I tried to get her to try them on, she was tired and had a fit.  She just put these babies on and started clopping around the house in them. Half a foot taller and a big ’ol smile on her face.   Time to try some her own size.  On the phone with her and Daddy at lunch, she had them on again.

Today I’m grateful for Frank and Lexie, date stamps, beads, bunny rabbits, camping, weekends, generosity.    

Glacier 

Barbara and Lexie discussing the stars on Lexie's cup 

Barbara enjoying the ride back to Whittier 

Mom and Dad with glacier. 

Sea Otter 

The jet engine on the Island Princess cruise ship docked in Whittier 

Waiting to go on the glacier cruise in Whittier Alaska