It's 8.44 and I should be Nephew sitting at 9.30...good thing it's only 10 minutes away (on bike). I was thinking about sneaking in a shower before that...which probably would eat at away at my updating time....hm.

Things to do today: email laima about saturday and say that we might leave earlier, email eric and kate to tell them the same thing, and ask hilary to stop to in an let the dog out sometime during the night. If she can't then figure out another option. Hm

Man, a shower would be nice...if only for my stupid hair. It's all greasimified. I remember when I was in High School we had one of those detachable nozzles in the bathroom shower, so it was easy to just wash my hair and go, instead of getting all wet. Our shower is firmly attached to the top....and our faucet doesn't seem conclusive to being hooked up to anything. I mean, the faucet in my high school growing up bathroom had some kind of screw thing...actually so did the faucent now that I think about it. Hm.

Geez. Would I have time? It's now 8:50....I mean I can always babble on later here....yea.

My head is going to explode. This vacation stuff sucks.

The ferry that was supposed to get us from Bellingham to Orcas went out of business. THen I had to find somehow to get us way the fuck out of our way to Anacortes to take a Ferry, and THEN the lady at the BnB tells us we should really rent a car.

Now. How do we get there, should we rent a car on the island or rent it someplace else, drive it to ferry place and take it over...blah blah blah. Or fly a plane. That is our current top one...and take a ferry BACK to Bellingham from Orcas. We are both exhausted from this. I am still not quite sure what we will do. I am going to call the two charter planes tomorrow and see who can do what.

That brought up the next issue of where we are going to stay in Seattle and for how much. Well, hotels apparently cost an arm and leg. FUCK! So after lots of looking, a well placed call to a parent, and then my own search for bed and breakfasts....I might have found a place for a 99 bucks a night at a BnB. I have some calls into other places for rates and availability...but at least for now...I have one place.

Great sigh of relief. I think we might be eatings lots of sandwiches.

Friday

Werk scmerk, left at 1.20 ran into Kathleen sitting at Starbucks having a snack. Chatted for a few minutes, got money and biked home. Went to three garage sales, booty includes: two skirts, fluffy socks, surprise item to be sent in mail to: Hilary, Jen, and Sarah, a full length apron dress smock (green checkered pattern), a indian childrens book, a box full of sandpaper, a box full of quilling supplies and books and patterns, pair of black lounge pants, small baggie of loose sequins, two gift bags, and coffee.

I made out like a bandit for 11.45 cents! I LOVE LOVE LOVE garage sales.

Ended up home and played with my stuff until the DH came home and we rode bike over to meet Oliver and possibly his roommate and our other afterwerker - Shane. But it was only Oliver (roommate didn't want to go) and Shane was having an interview in Milwaukee and didn't get back in time. Oh well...one day the entire crew will be assembled. The High Noon wasn't that busy, and I now have two free beers sitting in my wallet to be consumed any day before seven.

Afterward, an intoxicated DH and I rode bike over to Taco Palace to see what the fuss was about. I had a chimmichunga and he had a chorizo taco. It was okay. The place is way bigger inside than I expected. Rode home and the DH went to bed early, I stayed up and played a bit of God of War.

[Begin Video Game Geekiness]

I got the near end part with this crazy hard spot, where I have no magic left starting and almost a full health bar. But since it's so hard I kind of need the magic bar to have something in it so that I could at least use Hades Army. Gah. I tried 5 or 6 times before I gave up for the night. Effing game. I don't want to have to start over at another place back...and then make sure I have enough life to sustain me at this point. God it's hard.

[End Video Game Geekiness]

Saturday

Slept in. Made breakfast (eggs, hashbrowns and toast, with garage sale coffee). Watched Double Dare and KAL HO NAA HO (Tomorrow May Never Come) which has India's three favorite actors: Preity Zinta, Shah Rukh Khan and the ever dreamy, Saif Ali Khan.

Then we booked our flight for the vacation. Did some dishes, laundry, cleaned up a bit, made cookies and then decided I would head over to Laima's early to see if she needed help. Mostly I was a little bored and wanted to go do something.

I have to do something else...so to sum it up. Midsummer's party was fun. Was in bed by 1:00. The next day was Tim's first inline marathon (1/2). I went with. Then the rest of the day was spent napping, cooking, napping and a little internet.

Okay. I think we have our vacation figured out.

Fly to Bellingham, WA. Ferry to Orca Island and stay in BB for two days. Ferry back to Bellingham, board train to Seattle. Arrive Seattle, check in to hotel for three nights (this is the part that is unplanned right now). Check out early Sat. morning and fly back to Chicago, arrive by afternoon.

WOO! I am so freaking excited. Our first real vacation! I'd call this a honeymoon but that' s just stupid. Honeymoons happen the first year of marriage, after that they are called VACATIONS! Also, there is no such thing as renewing your vows, unless of course there is a divorce in between them.

Then Diary of Dreams is playing at Nocturna next Saturday ... I can't tell you how long I have been waiting to see them.

Did I mention to you mofo's that Tim got a new job? I am sure I did, which would explain why we are going on a vacation in between the ending of his current one and the starting of the new one. The job is SUPER sweet too...it's the utility company for Madison. Bike riding distance in the morning, lunching opportunities, beautiful sexy benefits...oh sweet job. It's totally my dream job....for Tim. :)

Devotcha or something is playing next Friday. Tim want to see them.

Tim is in his first 1/2 marathon inline skate this weekend for Badger State games. I am gonna be some moral support and thus am giving up my opportunity to pay 35-40 bucks to win a trophy in women's sparring. That is a double edged sword...you see there just aren't that many women fighter's out there...most of the women that show up to tournaments do forms.

Forms...is SO boring. Please. Snore. ZZZzzzzzzt! Thus, there is a good chance I would pay and then win the trophy by default because I was the only who showed up. See? That isn't any fun, and I feel like it's lying. I might has well buy a trophy off the internet and give it to myself.

Then there is a party this weekend...and so far nothing for 4th of July. I should fire up the campfire and invite some folks over...yeah that would be fun. A four day weekend....nice! Then a party on the 8th, and camping on the 14, 15 and 16th.

My little brother is coming ... well I guess it will have to wait now until after we are back from Washington...well he should have contacted us earlier.

I want to get the heck out of work and go garage sailing! There are gajillions of them out there right now.

Last night I had a great night hanging out with Laima and Hilary on Laima's secluded screened in porch with a bottle of port, sitting under colored light. It was the coziest, nicest night I have had in ages. It was the kind of night they show in movies about "girlfriends" bonding and stuff. Yeah.

I am wearing the shirt H-dog gave me for my birthday with a black tank underneath...it's quite cute. I even got a compliment from the hottest man in Tulane about how "good" I looked. :P

And tonight, of course, if afterwork beers at the High Noon Saloon!

I bingo'd yesterday with Laima over at DeJope. I totally lost, but at least I didn't loose lots of money and I had fun. Bingo is surprisingly fun! Thank goodness we had a few helpers across the table from us give us Bingo pointers, and Laima is quick on the draw.

Oh she didn't win either. But we are both winners because we had FUN.

I got another free week ahead of me, with Tuesday and Thursday off. WOO! I have a lot to do today.

1. Go to post office to send the package I have yet to package for my Mom.
2. Tai Chi at Monona Terrace at Noon
3. Possiblity sparring with Legion tonight (I wonder if he is back...)
4. Walk the dog.
5. TKD
6. Well, it felt like there was a lot more this morning and possibly even ten minutes ago. :P
7. Research vacation ideas.

What are those vacation ideas so far? Our brainstorming session yeilded:

Alaska: cruise, flight, or ferry
Visit to Washington State (to do what though...)
Puerto Rico
Virgin Islands
New England
Bed and Breakfast tour (Can be combined with these various location trips)
Niagra Falls
Yellowstone
Zoey
Adventure thingie
Universal Studios.

The one we really want is Alaska, but I think we might not have enough time to do anything good. :( It might have to wait.

Ha...well even with my second chance, I still haven't sent those father's day cards or my Mom's Birthday present, or given Hilary her birthday present. Gah, these things are behind it would seem. So be it, it will get done. This adhereing to one day a year is baloney anyway.

Tim and I went on a 31 mike bike ride today, going on the Drumlin Trail starting in Cottage Grove and going to Lake Mills (and then into town to get a snack and a drink). Needless to say, we are pretty tired. It was almost....too much. But we did it. :) I love that victorious feeling. I do feel like bed though. We made smelt for dinner and a salad. I am so ready to cuddle up with my latest issues of Good Housekeeping and drift off to sleep. Besides, it's almost 10. That would be okay.

Yeah. Tomorrow I am hoping to play Bingo with Laima. I hope she is still in and it's a go.

It's my Mom's birthday today. I thought it was yesterday, for some reason I wrote down that her birthday was the 14, and for a few years I keep thinking that is it. Well, I any case her birthday card/present is going to be late, as I only got it last night. I got it after going to the Dog Park for Pluto. IT's going to be hot and miserable the next few days and I wanted to make sure that he got a good run in. While it's still cool this morning I was thinking of taking him for a walk then too.

Then package the package and go to the post office to mail that and Father's Day cards.

On Tuesday noon, I met up with Kathleen for a free Tai Chi lesson on top of Monona Terrace. It was great! I really liked the class, but I was rather unprepared for the sun. The top of the Terrace is all white, no shade and under noonday sun means I got a sunburn on my shoulders and chest, and on my nose. It looked horrible! I looked like a drunk Katamari Prince's Dad, like Tingle from Zelda....I hated it and quite honestly did my best to not leave the house after that. Today it's starting to look a little better, and the sunburn on my chest is getting a bit itchy, so I guess that is a good sign.

I like tai chi, and will go for next Tuesday's lesson, but armed with sunblock.

I have some great news, that I will wait until tomorrow to tell you. I am VERY happy about it and it makes Madison feel like a real, honest to god home now (in addition to the outdoor campgrill). I am even thinking of joining clubs, and becoming a lifelong charter member or something like that.

I need an idea for a vacation. Where does one look to find these things? We can fly out on a Monday, or late Sunday night, and come back by the next Sunday. I wouldn't mind coming back on Friday either.

I feel overwhelmed in figuring that stuff out - like how to cash in airline miles and what not. I guess that makes me nervous. I'll be honest folks -- I have always gone though a travel agent, so the idea of doing this on my own is kind of scary, and yet I want to have a cheaper vacation....but then again I have had some agents go out of there way to make sure things go smoothly for me. I like having that "back up."

Awesome! Father's day isn't until THIS weekend. Cool. I can look like the perfect, ever loving daughter then to my two dad's. :) Thanks for the heads up dudes.

On Sunday I woke up to sleepy dogs scattered about on the bed, and not a single kitty to be seen. Tim was up early feeding the herd and getting ready for his Sunday morning skate park trip when Oliver called to cancel. Not a half a minute later, Tim was back in bed and sleeping.

At 10 ish, Tim woke me up by saying "See you later, I am gonna go eat breakfast at that Four Star Restaurant."

Of that woke me up right away. I want to eat breakfast there too. "Four Star?" I asked.

"Yeah, we don't have any milk, bread..." he started to list.

"Or eggs, or ..yeah. I dig," I sat up, reached over to pull on a yesterday's skirt and declared myself ready to go.

Off we went. It was a beautiful Sunday morning. We passed the farmer's house, the first house built on in the neighborhood back when the land was a farm, and saw that they were having a garage sale. Tim said the front door was open and it looked empty. I saw a shelf that I wanted and mentioned that I would stop on my way back home.

The food was cheap - two full breakfast's for only 10 bucks! Awesome! The shelf and lamp I ended up getting only cost me ... well the price was $1 for the shelf, and $75 cents for the nautical lamp. I asked the family if they were moving and the grandmother said yes. She was moving to California to live with her daughter, that the house was too much to take care of. Her son came out later and said they were going to put the For Sale sign up next week. I asked them how much they think it would sell for, and guessed 200 at least. I mean, this is a BIG house, two car garage, big yard...they even offered to let me into look around but I declined. I mean, if I did that then I would want to buy the house. Instead I thought of how perfect it would be for Hilary. Heh. :)

The bookshelf was great, perfect for the books piled on the floor beside my bed. The only non-perfect thing was the earwigs that came with it. UGH! I had to do a complete bed check to make sure there were no earwigs waiting to bite me when I was sleeping. Some kid had built this bookshelf -- there is a name and date on the bottom, and some hand carved "art work" on top. It totally needs some nails to re-hold it together, but for now...it's perfect! I love it.

After that, we got Pluto ready and drove out to the Alliant Center for Mounds Dog Fest. Man there were alot of dogs there. I saw a dog that I want: the Alaskan Klee Kai. Tim said they are are rare though...I wonder if I could find a cat friendly one. I am convinced there is a dog out there in the world for me...but maybe I won't find it until I am old. It will be some Reader's Digest quality story about the unlikelihood of us finding each other and probably how the dog will reteach me some valuable lesson or emotion.

Later that afternoon we went on a shopping hunt. I wanted some v-neck tshirts, and Tim needed some polo shirts (for work). Well, Tim's goal was apparently easy to finish because of boring Father's Day presents (clothes) were everywhere AND on sale. My goal, however was nigh on impossible.

Apparently America hates for women to have sleeves. I had this same problem three years ago when I tried to find a dress that had sleeves that didn't look like a boxy 80's garment, or that an old woman would wear it. I guess I have this problem now with shirts. I found several crew neck T-shirts with decent length sleeves, but I hate that look of having a tank for a chest. I guess when you make the shirt a v-neck you have to cut off the sleeves to resemble little sleeve guards. Sleeve puffs. Wanna be sleeves. Sleeves are NOT long enough when they show your armpit if you raise your arm above your head. There is no reason, on god's green earth, why they can't make sleeves a little longer. The only luck I had in finding this was in a women's polo shirt -- and trust me...it took several of those for me to try on.

I searched for three hours and found only two shirts. And I don't even love, love them. They are adequate. There are not many women that can pull off a tiny little sleeve t-shirt look. I am sick of women wearing these ill-fitting, inadequate clothes because that is the only thing that is offered. I was really, frustruated by the end the of trip, so much so that I just wanted to go home, and thus forgot to buy my Mom's birthday present.

I am not even gonna get started on why there is an acute shortage of long pants. What if I don't want to wear short pants? Huh? Fucking A.

Apparently Father's day is tomorrow. I just bought some cards today...better late than never, right?

But that isn't what is important. What is REALLY important is that we got an outdoor campfire grill/pit type thing. We went tested it out tonight and I quite proud to report that it toasted four marshmallows perfectly, and it was quite a lot of fun to just sit around and it and smell the burning wood. I mean, having a campfire really made my home feel like home.

I can imagine growing old in this place now, and I like the idea of it. I can't wait to have folks over to visit so that we can sit around the campfire, roast marshmallows/brats or whatever and have everyone still be able to sleep in their own bed. It's so freaking awesome. I am very, excited.

People should start coming over now.

Before that though, we picked up our vegetables, and then took a long bike around through the arboretum with Katja. It was quite awesome, she knew all the backroads and paths around the arboretum....it was a pleasure to just follow someone who knew what they were doing. Of course when I got home my knees were kind of hurty. They feel like that if I keep them bent, like sitting for more than few hours. Some of you may or may not know my knees are going to retire early. :(

Currently we have FIVE dogs in the house. Pluto and four ankle biters. All of the Madison siblings in laws decided to leave town for the night and needed someone to look after these buggers. It's okay, except for one. Didimus. This dog is completely irredemable. Poops, pees, and is forever barking. I don't get why they haven't gotten ride of him yet. None of us want him, and pretty much everyone that knows this dog thinks it's an asshole. I know that there is some bitter old lady out there that needs a dog just like to coddle and pamper until the end of it's day. All I want to do is throw the dog outside and let it fend for itself.

Ugh. BUT....in payment we got some belguim beer/wine, raspberry. It was quite good and now that is gone I am going to head to bed. I'm kinda of tired and there is no point to staying up late.

Goodnight.

I was TIRED this morning. So tired. I went to the Weary Traveller last night to celebrate one day of Hilary's birthday month/week with drinks and cake. My god that girl can clean up well. She wore her rose pink shirt, with a black skirt over it, the lighest stockings ever that went exceedingly well with her new shoes, a huge rope of pearls, a really cute shirt -- well she looked like an old timey super model. :)

I don't know, but for some reason I was super tired last night, and so by 11:30 I was very ready for bed. We went home and there was a message on my answering machine to call someone. We couldn't for the life of us figure out what the name was. I listened to the message like 8 times before we went to the computer to do reverse phone check ... and at least determined that the number was New Mexico one.

Once I had that tidbit of information I headed backed to the answering machine and soon decipered it was Zoey. I was going to call right away, but DH is a very cautious man when it comes to giving late night calls. Even though I figured she would be awake anyway.

Speaking of which, I am going to call now! Wait...there is a time difference of a... what? An hour? Maybe I should wait another hour...

I am on my second cup of joe this morning. I also got a ride into work from the DH. He had to go to some place downtown to take a Whiz Quiz ---- clever huh? I feel kind of guilty for not riding bike at least home...but I wanted to wear a skirt today, and blah. I just feel really tired, and hungry...still. But I guess we can ride bike over to the Weary Traveller again...for an afterwork drink with Oliver. We were also invited to a BBQ after that, but I don't know if we'll go. I mean....I guess I can't let my current state reflect how I am going to feel all day.

I baby sat Nephew yesterday. He was asleep most of the time but that last hour he was awake. He's kind of getting a little ... independent. He wanted to sit and play with toys - but since he is too little to keep himself up for long periods of time he tends to fall sideways...so I have to sit there and help him. He's also getting pretty grabby -- I gotta watch the hair and anything in grabbing reach when I carry him around. I think he was just a little crabby all around. But he's getting to be perfect baby size! If only he wasn't sooo....squirmy!

MAN, I am hungry today. :/

I have 546354 skeeter bites and they are driving me crazy! CRAZY.

Flipping little buggers...I hope they have a special place in hell.

Speaking of which, I wrote my supernatural story for my writing group today...actually I wrote it last night...and typed it up today and hate it. I think it might be too religious. Or maybe it's that I am "putting something personal" out there. In some aspect. It's due tomorrow. I think I am going to let it sit until tomorrow after work and then take a look at it again. I needs tweaking...

Today was good. I made scones but they aren't sweet. Good thing jam is in exsistence and is not rare. I also made stuffed shells for dinner and it was all ready to be baked whenever DH got back from his skate. He got new skates yesterday. Bigger wheels and if you guess bigger wheels means more expensive, well then you are a freaking genius! Or possible just pratical. I like both. He said they are super light...I wish I could remember what they were called.... I could go look....eh.

Gosh, it feels like I hardly did anything all day -- but cook. I guess cooking and dishes take up a lot of time. I also did some serious procrastinating..

OH those scones are from Carla (link on the left) --- and they were a tad bit...not sweet. I never realized how addicted I am to sweet pasteries...but I didn't have the cranberries and I think that was a key ingrediant to this recipe. However, they are best looking scones I have ever made. I can't wait to experiment with this recipe...particularily with chocolate, nuts and whatnot.

Alrighty then. This is one of the lamest updates to date. I feel like I should imparting some juicy gossip. Stormy Tuesday nights are the perfect times for gossip.

What should I get Hilary for her birthday? I am at a loss. :/

On Friday night Tim and I decided we should go sky diving. Neither one of us had done this kind of thing before, so we looked in the phone book for nearby schools. Apparently you have to take some kind of course so we decided to do the next best thing. Bungee jumping on Saturday.

Saturday morning bright and early, we take Pluto and Jack (dog sitting) to the dog park for a romp with some other greyhounds. The dog park folks haven't cut the grass there in some time so many parts of it were very long. There was a worrisome 10 minutes when we couldn't find one of the dogs! Everyone walked around calling "Zipper! Zipper!". One person even suggested that he found a hole in the fence to the nearby woods. Panic ensued until he was located snoozing in a patch of grass by the picnic tables. Dogs! I tellya.

After the dog park we packed up the car and headed to Wisconsin Dells to fork over a bunch of money to put our lives in danger. After some getting lost and stopping a farmer on his tractor for directions, we found the place only to learn that the day's jumps were already sold out! Bummer. We consoled ourselves with a huge heath, peanut M&M bizzard from DQ before heading back home. Just in time because we had some friends visiting from Minnesota. We met them at the Great Dane and ordered ribs all around (Saturday special). Afterward one went off to be the leader singer in a small metal band at a hesher fest going on at the local youth community center. I don't remember the name of the death metal band, but I am sure you could probably make one up.

The rest of crew - Karen, Marta, Tim and I rollerbladed down and around State Street racking up cow points and taking photos. We had a refreshing swim in the remarkably clear lake outside of the Memorial Union, and then went home to drink wheat beer and shoot the shit.

Marta, who was Miss Czech 2000, had a facination with Native Americans (as most good Europeans do). So I showed her my Indian stuff, and we ended up having a little "photo" shoot. It was tons of fun. I like talking about indian things to people who are genuinely interested.

Sunday morning we cooked up a traditional midwestern breakfast and broke our fast outside on our deluxe target, safari collection patio furniture. I tell ya, those things are DARN nice. Tim went off to play a military minutures games and I took the gang to Olbrich Gardens were we crashed a wedding in progress. oops! They should put signs up.

Then we went to Woodman's to get some beer for their trip back home, I got some really nice wine and we parted ways. I spent the rest of the afternoon writing letters, recording a home video, working on my novel and sleeping. Later that night we watched for our close friend's "extra" part as a crew member on King Kong. We got only half way through before we closed up shop for the night.

[Note: Many elements of this post are not true.]

I biffed it on the rollerblades, and ripped my current favorite blue pants. I mean, they were nothing to write home about...er....they probably even already look ratty. Hell I guess I have a reason to make shorts right now. :P I was SO ungraceful and clumsy. It's been awhile...but I wanted to get that 40 min exercise stint in and work a different muscle group.

Frozen pizza night.

This is a test post again.
Again.

This time I mean it.

I think...I am having ftp problems. It sucks.

Kommst zu mir!

So yeah. It's one of those days. Ride into work was fine. Ride home was even better. The dog ran around in the backyard showing off to the neighbors (they were by the fence quieting their barky dog Buzz -- whom Tim calls Bubbles). I need to get this place cleaned up! We have some guests this weekend.

It's funny. The only people who ever stay here overnight is people from up north or Minnesota. I guess us northern folk just value a dollar and friendship a little more than you southern folk. Heh.

Yeah so. That is what I should be doing. Not contemplating eating an ice cream cone. I should save that for later. GO DRINK WATER damnit.

I bought some sparring gear today -- ouch. Expensive...but you know what? The first set of sparring gear I got was free to me...so I guess it's okay. I know I am totally gonna feel like a huge dumbass for having a cage on my face, and one of those stupid looking chest guards. Ugh. I mean....I am gonna feel like an overdressed booger. BUT.... and let me stress that but....I have been sparring twice a week now for three weeks, and you know all that increased sparring means I have increased chance of getting a busted nose, black eye, split lip, cracked ribs, etc...you get the point. Last night I almost got a knee to the face ... just the whisper of a touch .... and a warning to never bend forward after a kick.

Uh. Thanks -- but with a face guard I can maybe get more to that golden, ever sought after -- relaxed state. Now there is absolutely no need for me to be this injured if I just take the time to look like an overdressed bumpkin. Right? Right?! I guess it'll be like when I started to wear a bike helmet last year. I felt like a total dudebag...but after awhile I got over it. I'll get over this.

My legs are hurty though...my shin guards must have slipped a bit...and I have some huge bruises on my legs. Sexy, I know.