Out with a bang!

Yes, we went to Hooters for my last day. Gawd I'm going to miss my crazy "gurlfriends" at Hill! I only cried a couple of times probably because I felt so supported and loved. On to my next step in my career path but nothing will ever be like Hill. ps. they made me get up and dance with the Hooter-ettes...I think that it was their revenge.

CHECK IT... rollin on the river

make new friends and keep the old, one is silver-the others Gold

Its Tuesday and couldn't wait to get home and clean. We had an eventful weekend, filled with Harry Potter movie and white water rafting. It was great but the house was thrashed!

Tonight was my chance to get the kiln going, vacuum and various cleaning of bits and pieces.
I like cleaning the house alone, it gives my brain the freedom to multi-task or attempt many things at once. I start in a room, get it to the ultimate disarray and ( oh I had to stop to pull some weeds) then move on to the next room...I had paperwork to file (read put in different stack in other room) vacuum under bird cage, put half the clothes away...the rest will be there...check kiln, cat litter of course, dust here and there...more vacuuming, fold clothes, pack for club, check clothes that need mending (coworker at work helps with the actual task) walk dogs and update blog. and like thirteen other things...its hard being me. Then Rich comes home wondering will I actually get to the point where things look cleaned up. A neighbor came over to chat and offered (since its so damn hot) for us to come take a dip in the pool, but Rich said No, Kris can't until she finishes her chores...sweating I keep going. I'm not the cleaner of the house, nor am i the organizer or the chef but my tasks are important and together we get the job done. Now I can officially relax..the back yard is cooling and the kilns still going. The coals are white and we'll be throwing on the turkey burgers shortly.

Life is overall good. The War with CarMax continues...even spoke to the Bureau of Auto Repairs and Call3, a local adevocacy group...I take my truck back after a horrible series of events I'm not strong enough to even to go into...maybe during another post. Hopefully after a slight victory and my freakin truck is fixed...fingers crossed. Our White Water adventure was sooooooooooo cool, we met up with Richard and Vicky from our Baja kayak and got to meet some of their friends. It was good to met the challenge head on of rafting, Rich and I were both nervous...wait for the pictures...we deferred to the pros. The best part was Rich riding Rodeo, front of the raft, one hand hanging on for dearlife and going face first into class 3 rapids...he screamed and smiled the whole time.

I'm winding down at Hill, very sad but I'm up for the challenge of my new job next week. Lob you all and gotta check the kiln.

Black Dog Saloon

We were invited to Margaret and Mike's Penn Valley home-tres magnifique! We had time to enjoy the day and wonderful company, trading stories, played pool and met new people. I want to live near them, Penn Valley is still small but totally accessible and tons of oaks!!!

We enjoyed a Pyle Fourth of July!!! We indulged in Rich's Ribs that he spent six plus hours smoking, yummy salads and cold libations. The magic of fireworks is that they turn anyone into a seven year old, and this year Mason had plenty of friends!!! The next day we escaped the heat and went to Half Moon Bay with the poochies. It was literally 50 degrees cooler. Plus with the help of our Dogs Lover guide to CA, we found a couple dog parks, a cool, funky hotel/B & B and a great place for dinner. So not only did we get a "beach" fix but cooled off for a day and a half. Plus we visited dog heaven, "Fort Funston." Its a blast to see ever shape, breed, hair type and color, sateration level, drool quotent and smile....DOG HEAVEN!!!!


Then Rich did the equivalent to a daddy taking his child to his/her first day of school...by the hand, kicking and screaming! We drove to Oakland and found the Kaiser corporate office...where I have to be for physical exam Monday at 1:15pm. Then he took me to the Amtrak (Jack London Square) station and drove to both my new office and the corporate office...three times so I would be comfortable taking the train and ultimately a cab to the office. At first I was so nauseous....thinking I would both barf and have an anxiety attack at the same time...but by the third time I could smile and see the cool side of Oakland and little china town. Scary business but with Rich supporting me, I can do this! Bring it!

Cats outta the bag!

Officially I'm starting my new job at Kaiser July 23rd. I'm excited for this opportunity but I'm going to miss my friends at Hill!

As for this weekend, we piloted 11 swimmers, 4 miles from Negro Bar to Natoma Damn. Beautiful out there so early...and its just a great group of Peeps. Once they were all in, Rich and I kayaked back to our car. Ow, we were going against the current and it was brutal.

Then we came home napped and then packed up the truck and headed up to Kelly's for a bit of camping (aka...drinking) Its always wonderful to smell the pine trees, watch dogs kicking up red dirt, feel the heat from the campfire and enjoy warm company.

ps. Meeps is up two pounds, keep your fingers crossed!

Sometimes I really hate being a girl...

I have tortured myself over getting a different car since you just can't tied kayaks to a Celica. So I have shopped the internet, test drove cars and literally drove myself crazy choosing something. I knew that I wanted a truck but the jury was out between a Dodge and a Toyota. I love Toyotas but they are expensive. I was going to use whatever I could get for my celica towards the truck.

I gathered all my strength and scheduled an appointment with CarMax. I heard good things about them...so I committed the day to doing this. 11 am I was there, optimistic and enthusiastic. I test drove a few and fell in love. A mere 4 and a half hours later my love and I drove off. The ordeal left me starving and a bit weary. So I get home and Rich goes for a ride with me. He's sold, we go around the block and come back to park in our driveway. He says "pop the hood." And thats when everything went down the tubes...there's rust where there shouldn't be, we get on our backs in 90 plus weather and look at the under carriage RUST and MUD! So I (we) will return to CarMax tomorrow to try again...poops!

a new height in Geek-dom

We went to Tahoe for the big GeoCaching event. Geeks from around the globe gathered...the funny thing was this event coincided with Tahoe's (self proclaimed) "Opening Day." That means there were those of us, GPS in hand on the same streets with the margarita by the yard drinking Nevadans mixed in with the snobs from Heavenly Village (yes, they're trying to compete with Squaw)...we almost got lost in the fray but wound up doing a bit of it all. We found four caches, went into MontBleu, Rich checked out the W oars (purposely misspelled) dressed in four inch platform patent leather boots, watched the motocross crazies flipping and ate at Wolfgang Puck Express...The place was PACKED and by 3 I suggested we get home to our normal crazies...oh and we started our Tahoe adventure seeing something that I've never seen before...we turned from the highway to skirt the city hub and out runs this adult bear, I SWEAR, Rich initially didn't slow down cause it was sooooooo surreal... but of course he did stop. The bear gave us the paw and didn't stop to say hi! Happy father's day to all you fathers out there!

Rich's birthday weekend

We went to Pops in the Park with the Pyles....thats a lot of "P's." Edda made birthday pie and Mark and Rich wore the same outfits...oh my! Besides that, just relaxing...ps. found how to link Flickr pictures...check out Kelly's Memorial Weekend...damn bunch of photogenic folk!

a delish four day weekend

Starting out Thursday night with a Pyle visit, followed by Friday's visit to CR Loo. We went to this glass warehouse store in Richmond and we both bought some cool stuff.
Then as planned we meet with Cookie, Tom and Ian in China Town. Oh muy gawd...we have the most delish greasy meal ever, including salt an pepper deep fried crab....with the shell still on. Always great to catch up with family "face to face" plus with Ian going to UCSF this fall, we should be seeing all of them more regularity.

Then Saturday...catch up,cleaned the dogs, cooking and chores, for the evening we watched "Music and Lyrics" Cute and simple movie. Happy anniversary to us!

Sunday we were finally able to relax, we went and saw "Knocked up!" It was good...Freaks and Geeks good, not 40 year old Virgin good.

Then today we drove to Sausilito at 3:30am to go deep sea fishing. We wound up getting skunked but it was an adventure. Only two guys "hooked up" on 23 and the other 18 lbs.

Now back to work-but only a four day work week.

Meeps is in the building

Not too sure what's going on but he's up to his old tricks. He has five new scratches on me and has bit Rich's knee...that's our Meepers!!! Now for two weeks he is quarantined and we can limit our petting time to one half hour...it goes quick. But he's home, he may need a second treatment but its all worth it. Thanks for the well wishes....but he not totally ready for his unveiling....ps. Rich and I are going to SF today to connect with his Sister, her hubby and our nephew...very exciting and tomorrow is our 17th wedding anniversary.

Kellys Camping

Rich and I, Tig and Allie ventured to Kelly's for a quick camping trip. It was perfect...friends, beading, Coronas, live music, birthday girls, camping kids covered in marshmallow, summer, dirt, joy, sunshine and a little bug repellent.

Plus got home to this update on Meeps, "he's peeing, pooping, eating and drinking...that's all we expect at his point...call you Tuesday with a geigercounter(sp?) reading to confirm when he can come home. Well tomorrow's Tuesday...I'll keep you all posted. K

conspriring was involved

Greg and I were working on a birthday gift for Rich (Rich's bday is 6/10) Thinking I'm pretty smart enlisted the skills of a talented artist...I provided the canvas and Greg the talent. I thought it would be cool to have a spare tire cover, that ties Rich's FJ license plate reference to "Rocket Man." Yesterday while I drove home Greg called asking if we could give Rich his birthday gift early...I insisted no, we would have to wait, that its important that we all have something special on our natal day...so he came over for more conspiring. The moment he showed it to me, I was sold...so we gave it to Rich. YEAH, then only to be disappointed that it didn't freaking fit. Its still such a cool piece of art, we are just going to have to mount it and display it. Happy memorial day...Meeps is good, next update will come in on Sunday. Hugz

Meeps is baking as I type

the vet hosp just called, drained of energy i can't even capitalize...ive cried off and on all day. being a fairly chipper person, people (good meaning or otherwise) want to get all up in my grill cause i'm not surrounded by my usual blue disney birds but this kicked my ass. all walls keeping my emotions in check crumbled when they took my baby behind closed doors. now don't get me wrong, all the people that i encountered there were real "animal" people, educated and enthusiastic...but if Einstein took meeps away i wouldnt feel any better with his genius.

he was so brave...if i can figure out the technology i will share the photos from my phone. the vet walked in on our conversation, and asked what i was doing...my response, dahhhhhh I am taking pictures of my cat.

so riding the emotional waves this afternoon I made it through all my chores and was making dinner. then the call came in from nuclear....something something on caller id. i pick up immediately (after the synapse fired) and carol informed me that meepers was mid process and she was giving me an update. the tumors that they found are graded from 1 to 4 and the first one they found was a three and the other one was larger than a 4 (how can you have a range that caps at 4 and then rate it above 4??????????) So i lost it but ultimately he is where he needs to be. can't wait to know he's ok and home....I guess this is one of those "good news/bad news" posts. he may have to stay longer...my heart is just sick but logic brings me around that he's in the best place possible. my tummy and heart hurts. thanks for the positive thoughts, dare i ask for more?

Radio iodine therapy

I'm taking Meepers in tomorrow for Radio Iodine Therapy...if they accept him, they will give him a subcutaneous injection...leaving him radio active for 7 to 10 days. We have been treating him with pills twice a day for almost three years (can you believe he's eight?) managing his hypothyroidism.

When he returns home, we have to have limited access for the following month. I packed a bag of food, his bowl, a towel and a small stuff animal. Please join me in sending him good thoughts tomorrow. We are going to miss him sooooo much, through his special way, he keeps all of us "in line."

Tour DeCure

Today we rode 25 miles for the American Diabetes Association, for us and many of our loved ones. We got some wonderful donations, couldn't have done it without them and all we had to do was ride. We rode until both our asses were numb. Plus to make the event more special, we had a pot luck at one of my Doctor's house last night. He was quite a host, his wife was wonderful and the company made the evening very special. We lounge around his pool, noshed some yummy bits and enjoyed the entire cast of characters. Its quite weird to combine "work life" with "weekend/normal world." And you know what, it was perfect. My new company is filled with crazies. And I'm so thankful...First Health eat my shorts! Back to numb butts...some folks rode 10 miles, some joined us for the 25 mile ride and the studs rode 50 or even 75 miles. Our Sacramento office is quite competitve with our San Ramon office... in donation and participation-we kicked their numb butts to the curb. Thanks again to my family and friends for donating and confirming that our commitment was a "worthwhile endeavor."

We did Race for the Cure on Saturday

Its always a surreal and personal experience. As you run you see different names of family and friends that have lost their battle with Breast Cancer. Rich and I enjoy the experience and appreciate the opportunity to give back a little. We have the Diabetes bike ride next weekend.

Love to My momma and all you mommas out there!!! Here's us at the Haceinda in Folsom this morning!!!! Then shopping with the three ladies....look out!!!!

the saddest of news

We have found out that our dear friend, Sandy Crowder has passed away. Of his forty eight years, our circles of friends have overlapped for more than twenty years~Rich and I intermitently just cry. Even though you may not see someone all the time, they may still hold a special place in your heart. I remember him being there celebrating my twenty first birthday, I remember Thanksgivings with him and a outrageous birthday of Richs involving golf and the Zebra Club.

I remember him expanding our circle of friends with his friends and family. Plus the Bocce Ball Tournaments were soooooooooooooooo fun for us, reconnecting with him, at his ranch in Lotus, all with one goal in mind~FUN! Sandy embodied joy and a love of life. Please enjoy these pictures and though our circle of friends is now smaller...it just mean those of you, our rare friends and family, in our lives are that much more important.
Life is precious and delicate~love you all!!!