What Have I Done To Deserve This?

Cuz it's pretty awesome

As much as I love my job, I'm kind of done with being a disappointment to people today. (College's fault, not mine.) Due to our one car situation and B and R being on campus at different times, Dan offered to let me stay and work so I could leave with them, but I said NO THANK YOU.

Things I did after work:

- Mani/pedis with Little R and Little C

- Grocery shopping (spaghetti for dinner)

- Texted with Mom

- Picked up Hubby

- Played Sims 

Life is just a dream, sweetheart.

Just Another Mechanic Monday

Out

But first: Still can't resist listening to Music and the Spoken Word with a big ole cup of Joe. I'm such a naughty girl.

And now: Out for an adventure. I have some birthday gift cards to spend and I also brought snacks. So you know things are serious.

Found these lights at Michaels. Bought them. Brought them home. Hung them up. They're very cute, and bright, but they're sure....warm.

After coming home and getting cozy, I just kind of laid around and did whatever. Earlier in the day I arranged with Uncle John that I would call and talk to Neenaw this evening, and when the time came, she and I had a great chat. Little R and Little C chatted with her as well, and I pondered on the rarity of being in the middle of a 5 generation grandparent-grandchild sandwich. I wish my dad had lived long enough to meet his great grandchildren and enjoy it with us. 

After talking with her for a while, I spoke with Uncle J. It's evident that Neenaw is getting ready to go soon. Hubby and I ended up planning a trip for me to drive down and see her and spend a long weekend. My work schedule ended up giving me a 6-day break, so it all worked out perfectly. Sounds like Brother E may go with me. I'm leaving Thursday morning.

After getting everything set up, I felt peaceful. Maybe I've been worrying about her for a while and that's why I've been having kind of a hard time lately. We found out earlier in the month that Neenaw's health was failing and it didn't seem like it would be much longer, but I had no time to go and see her because January was already so packed. That probably sounds terrible but she's always been so healthy, and reliable, I guess is the word. Like even though she's over 100 years old, she would just always be there. Uncle J joked that she was going to outlive him.

At any rate, I feel a lot better now.

Coming Home

After waking up to an epic storm ("Should we leave??"), eating breakfast at Cannon Beach Pig 'N Pancake, and spending time at a cute bookstore in Seaside, there was the exhausting marathon through Seaside Antique Mall. 

We had a mission: finding a sugar and creamer set. After searching high and low, we found a set that we fell in love with, except it 1) cost $125 and 2) might contain lead. No thanks! I'm bummed, though, because this pattern was new to me and so beautiful. 

Franciscan "Little Fruit" - THE LEMON HANDLE

Long story short, we ended up at the Fred Meyer in Warrenton, Oregon; bought a generic white (but still cute) sugar and creamer set; and are wending our way east. As we drive, we see things we want to come back and explore sometime. A weekend in Astoria is in our tentative future.

Lunch: burgers at Bundy's in Clatskanie, Oregon

Verdict: YUM. We'll be back.

Later: A relaxing afternoon and evening.

TO THE BEACH

Aye, tis a cold January noon

Here's our cottage! We love it!

It was a fun day. We watched some TV and ate our snacks for lunch, then headed out onto the beach. The weather was CRAP today and we spent about five minutes in it before we decided to come back inside and then go to town. Keep in mind, after spending that time at the beach, I walked into every shop looking like a drowned rat, so of course the kind and highly customer service-oriented shop employees of Cannon Beach were nothing but lovely.

(No they weren't, they were buttholes)

We went back to the cottage and chilled out, then I put on some fart licking makeup

(IS THIS ENOUGH MAKEUP FOR YOU, YOU CANNON BEACH HAGS??)

...and we went and grabbed some dinner, and found this funny little pie place - kind of a pie speakeasy. You walk up dark stairs to a third floor apartment, walk inside, choose your pies and drop your money in a drawer. It's on the honor system! Weirdest thing ever and I am totally here for it. The pie is good.

At dinner, we talked about going to a movie or something, but taking the pie back to the cottage was enough excitement for us. We turned on Fatal Attraction, which neither of us had ever seen before because Mormonism, and were very happy that Glenn Close gets it in the end. (I'd add the phrase "spoiler alert" but the movie is like forty years old.)

Now we're in bed and the window is open and we can hear the surf. Life is good, friends. Even with no makeup in Cannon Beach.

Being 54

Work Birthday

shhhh it's a secret

He can't know that I took a picture 

neither can she

also don't tell anyone that Hubby texted one of his soccer players, thinking he was texting me. he feels fortunate that he didn't say anything worse

we laughed our butts off, especially at the little dog emoji at the end, and "Classic bunny!" is our new favorite catchphrase 

Indulgent Sunday Coziness

aw yeah 

Plus a couple of sisters getting some cheese

Sims, dishes, enchiladas, shower, bed.

Pep Banding It

But first: R's dear former roommate Kate is coming to play indoor soccer with R, and then spend the night with us tonight, so we did us some housecleaning this morning. I also crocheted and made a couple more yo-yos. Eventually I hope to make it back down to the sewing nook and do some real damage. 

Outside, the streets are finally thawing and will be walkable again soon, and I needn't spend my evenings waiting in the driveway for B's friend to come along and offer a ride. 

And now: The Main Event. Today we're playing Lane College women's and men's basketball teams and the pep band is providing stellar pep and entertainment. The refs like us, at least. 

I still really like our shirts. 

Prior to the first game, Hubby and I grabbed some McD's for my lunch and chatted in the car. I told him that I think it's time to call our realtor. As I stood washing dishes earlier, the thought occurred to me that we really do just need a bigger house. We're settled, we're stable, no one's going anywhere for a while, and we're just cramped. As much as I love our property and neighborhood, the place is just too dang small for all of us. 

Back to the game: These people found me

There's always time for yo-yos.

After the games: Kate arrived, pizza for dinner, and the indoor soccer games happened (R got two assists!). I stayed home and ended up calling Brother E - we chatted for quite a while. Then the soccer group came home. 

It was a busy, but great day.

Back to Work 2: Now why won't any of our printers work?

WORK FINALLY HAPPENED.

help us

After a week of excessive lolling, my sleep schedule is MESSED UP. I was so tired, and so cranky, especially when dealing with a particular coworker (not The Farter this time, though - thank goodness). The bookstore itself seemed to be struggling as well, as equipment (printers, refrigerators, hot water dispenser, you name it) was either broken or in the process of breaking. 

After work: Came home, ate Blind Onion pizza for lunch, crashed in bed. Woke up in the mood to go somewhere. Thought about sushi at the mall, decided to take local transit since Hubby and R were in Olympia, walked outside and found the street to STILL be icy, slippery and impassable. Dad burn it, can we just thaw out already?

B happened to be waiting for a ride from Juniper, and when she and her mom arrived, I was outside in the driveway, contemplating my next move. They saw me and all but scooped me into their car, and offered a ride to the mall. Absolutely.

So off we went, and I was able to eat sushi.

stole Hubby's ginormous jacket

Phoenix rolls

Afterward, I sat in a lounge area, charged my usually-almost-dead phone, and read Jane Eyre. (St John is such a zealous, controlling little jerk. Gross.) Hubby and R swung by on their way back into town and picked me up.

I'm glad I rolled myself off the bed and got busy tonight - I had fun.

Back to Work

....as of 8:24 AM. We'll see what happens when we actually leave. 

8:32 AM: The text and email messages finally arrived that campus was again closed for the day. 

Taking a Bath With Jane and Mr. Rochester

No work today. It's sad because B was scheduled to give his speech at the queer luncheon. 

Tomorrow is iffy, at least to me, work-wise. After this afternoon and evening's scheduled icy rain, and tomorrow morning's still-freezing temps, I doubt things will be safe enough for travel. 

We'll see what the college does. For now, we're all enjoying a bonus day at home. 

MLK Day 2024

This is pretty much it.

Heading Home

Waiting for our train at King Street Station. What amazing architecture!

I'm especially fond of this tile border:

Due to weather, our train was delayed leaving for over an hour, but we amused ourselves by photographing stuff - Hubby brought his nice camera. Life is good.

Finally, it was time to board the train. After finding our seats, we sat there for quite a while, but it was so much more comfy than standing in line.

We broke into the chocolate cake I never got around to eating last night:

Holy heck

And, I made more yo-yos. I've decided this is just a thing I'll be doing on trips. It scratches my "make something" itch, and is light and portable.

The chartreuse yo-yo is from our Sacramento trip, one year ago

As the trip progressed, things got a little snowy....

...and when we arrived in the Couve, there were several inches of lovely packed snow to drag the suitcase wheels through. We drove home through town and enjoyed the lovely sight and sound of everything covered in a gorgeous white blanket. 

Dinner was ready and we ate, cleaned up the messy living room, and relaxed with TV.

Perfection