this is for Lor and Bren (who else, hello!)

first off, sorry Lor for not getting back with you on the weekend outing, we had previous obligations. But I found an extra thirty minutes in my day between chores, Mason's birthday party at McKinnley and more chores to go to Rumpelstiltskin's...first time yarn purchase for me. I was pretty intimidated but the woman that worked there was willing to help me. I bought new needles (#11) thou the skien said #10s...and sale yarn (I'm sooooo cheap). I brought the supplies (of my new addiction) to the park, knowing Edda would help me "cast on." Which she did (Love you Edda!!) and then it was up to me to hold true to my commitment to pearling. Now I'm comfortable knitting but the pearling still vexes me. Edda was a trouper with my ineptitude but got me to a level that I could procede on my own...and Lor thats due to your initial training! So check it out. Don't look too close, but I'm pearling damn it!

ps. anyone, how do I put link/tabs in my posts???

Anna's back in Sac!

We are so happy that Anna chose to move back to Sac-check out her pad!!! She asked for some of Rich's help with wires, computer setup and speaker connections. So last night we kicked it, old school! Welcome and so glad to have you close!!!!
ps. throwing in one sushi shot from last weekend "avocado dragon!!"
now off to the studio!!!

....time for something totally different...

Penny is going crazy, I know we signed a contract when we adopted her...not to let her outside but she is officially going crazy. It started a few days ago, she found kind of a texture tag on the wall and pulled a chunk outta the wall. So I cleaned it up, gave her a cuttle bone (thanks birds) and have let her out under supervision. Then each day we get home, there is more evidence...she's still gnawing at the wall...my cat eats drywall. What the Hell? Advice???

WAHHHHHHHHHHhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

Things were getting better this week, Greg is home and Safe. things were calming down, no crisis, work was workable, I got to see Mamma Mia Thursday night (thanks Margaret!!!!) and loved it...we have a wedding this weekend and Kayak whale watching replacement planned for Sunday, in Santa Cruz, bought a cute dress for the wedding, had hotel reservations and Lori O was going to watch the pets (another huge thanks and its nice to know we couldn't trust our pets with better friends!!! yes Sean too!!! XO) So...plans are moving on throughout the week, got my nails done, then Friday evening had a hair appointment....thats when it happened, wait did I tell you we were going to stay in Santa Cruz two nights and Rich would drop me at work Monday morning in Oakland...yeah yeah....best laid plans....
So I come out from the hair salon, get in my car, put the key in the starter and turn around to back out....only to see day light, yes there is no window, its been smashed out...funny how the brain, frame by frame, starts to digest what just freakin happened, I get outta the car and look at the back shattered window and they only stole one thing, oh just one thing (no biggie right?) no they stole my briefcase with all my work in it. Now I call 911, ok not really a life threatening incident, so call non-emergent police...stay on hold for twenty minutes while some of the surrounding store owner/managers come out and help clean up all the glass...finally I hang up, knowing I'll just have to file a claim with my insurance.

Thangs to be thankful for:
they didn't steal my car
they now must do the Dr Wong and Walters contract...that image in my head is really funny, some crook trying to do my work
no extended personal information was stolen
$100 deductible
and my hair looks gorgeous!

Really I'm trying to make light of it, but I feel so wronged, then I think of what Greg went through and I b iatch slap myself...thankful that it wasn't worse. So my advice during these trying times, don't leave anything of value in your car and never plan a freaking kayak whale watching tour, cuz it just WASN'T MEANT TO BE!!!

Happy Thoughts!

Gregs moved!












Taxes paid!
...happy thoughts, happy thoughts, happy thoughtS!
ps. Great seeing Rich's Sister and hubby-Cookie and Tom love you tons!

How quickly things can change....

The weekend started with a van rental and then Mark and I spent all morning loading Greg's stuff and all afternoon moving into the new digs. A nice 2 bedroom townhouse apt with "walk in" closets no less. Sunday I helped Greg set up the new place and by 3pm we were playing Guitar Hero in stereo and life was good. Cut to the midnight phone call....the apt next door caught fire...he is ok and they let him into a vacant apt next door....I show up at 6:45am and he is a bit freaked... When I talk to the Mgmt staff they let me know that the apt is toast and because of the presence of asbestos...all of the soft items inside are contaminated....Red Cross was great..they provided debit card for some supplies and a voucher for 3 days at a motel,,,but Greg wont leave without his backpack, back in the burned unit....and he wont sign the waiver to get in...

I set him up with a cellphone and some clothes, bed, cooler and leave him about 12 hours later...Tuesday he is still unwilling to sign the waiver, so I try to make him comfortable and work with the manager on the upcoming new apt...I split around 3 to try to get a nap and at 4:50 I get a call from the manager that someone "matching his description" has busted the window at the burned out place. So over I go and when I get there she allows me in ,,,against the rules and I get the Backpack...This in hand, Greg is now ready to go to the Motel..GREAT!

I check in, open the doors, go back to the car and tell Greg to take the dog to the bathroom and lock him in there so we can bring in the stuff. Well the dog had other ideas and proceeds to escape his collar and get hit by a car on Arden way...HOLY SHIT!!! Greg is able to round him up and we get him into the room. About the time Kris shows up and like the Angel she is, calms all of us down...Dog seems OK...WOW..

Wednesday morning and he seems OK. I get him some water and get to work for a couple hours. I am pretty burnt, so I do what I can and get out. Now I find that he is back to whigged out and only wants water no food. He is safe with his dog, bird, guitar and backpack! I am taking the night off. The pics are of the Sunday afternoon happy time and the one is of the fire damage....all good thoughts are welcome!

Glass and Craft Bead Expo

This blog post could reflect the fun, friviality and mahame conjured up of a Vegas trip but really we were calm...My sister and I headed to our fourth Glass and Craft Expo in Vegas. And one night we were in bed by 9. I'm such a wuss....I know she would be up for bit more partying but her younger “stick in the mud” sister is all about precaution, preparation and prevention. I was using my anti-bacterial gel constantly and washing my hands, all the while trying to seek out anything resembling “real food.” Thank goodness for the Seattle's Best, bran muffins, freakin delish. Mind you I'm not totally innocent...we wopped it up...between 7 and 9:30, what...? Whatever, we had classes to go to and WHATEVER. Thats just me...Plus this trip was different than previous trips. Before we stayed on the Strip and really made the most of walking around, seeing and experiencing the sights. Not so much this time, we stayed at the South Point “off, off Strip.” One day I didn't even go out side, once. But the classes were on the most part, good.
The Feng Shui class, that I was the most excited for, was a complete bust. (note: taking a Feng Shui class from a man named: Stew G oldman, may have been my first clue) The instructor was having some mental issues and as a class progressed, we slowly watched him desinergrate in front of us, talking about how all he wanted was to go back to the time in Japan, during the war, when he was 23, buff and in power....then we heard about his 7 marriages...and that he really didn't believe in Feng Shui ...frake, whelp that was a bust. I requested a full refund, I'll wait and see.
My Internet Marketing class was really a combo of a 6 hour commercial for this womans Web Design services and how most people screw up trying to do websites themselves. Another disappointment, if I knew the class was limited to Web design, I would have made another choice. However, my sissy and I travel well together and entertain ourselves.
The best class for me was a bubble class. The instructor was possessed to teach us as much as possible in the seven hour class, plus we came out of the class with nine pieces, some air brush experience and the option to try a mold making medium too. These are the only samples that I made but I'm pretty impressed with the experience. And I feel like I know a number of different ways to create bubbles in my glass work, including using laudry detergent and the paint should be mixed with denatured alcohol and Mountain Dew for best results. Glass People are a little twisted!
Then there was the gambling, again...if some people live LARGE...I'm a proponent for living: small to Medium....yeah, I rule on the penny machines, hell they still bring you free drinks to the penny machine too! We found the Star Wars machine and two nights in a roll, Kathy and I rocked to Chewbackahs roar, Xwing fliers, and Darth himself...oh yeah there was Cloud City and Jedi training...we just sat and giggled like little girls. Thoroughly entertained and usual coming out with more money than we started with...of course those winnings could only be counted in Pennys :D
Note games not to play: Lotus Flower, SeaMonkeys, Shake your Booty, Dam Lumbeerjack Beavers and that Gem tile game ....
As for the Expo itself, the shopping was overwhelming: I bought some highly saturated color paper that can be cut and sandwiched with clear that is really spectacular. I bought a sample pack of bubble powder...see samples, again really cool. I bought dichro decals, gold and platinum and Edda-three new drill bits (the right size) yeahhhhh!
So unless they move the Expo to Reno, I think I'll need a year break before returning...but all in all a good experience. Love my snoring Sister and coming home (frack my plane doesn't even get to Vegas for another hour) will be a thrill.