Yesterday was really hot. I went and bought some cinnamon rolls, glasses, toothbrush holder and socks at rummage sales yesterday on my own and with Laima (we also went and visited Atwood days and then picked up veggies). It was SUPER HOT. Like, I'm melting and all wanted to do was spend some quality time inside.

My mantra yesterday was "Sore is not broken. Sore is not broken. It's all in your mind. Mind over organic matter."

Sitting was impossibly hard. Today it's a bit better....but oh man yesterday was awful.

We picked up Andrew yesterday and everyone helped pick me a big ol' bucket of blackberries. I am gonna make me a pie! And maybe have some leftover for crumble or something. Oh that sounds good. :) For now, I am going back to St. Dennis to cash in my tickets for some corn.

--- later

I got a bag full of books and magazines. A whole bunch of old New Woman's magazines from the late 70's. It's facinating.

Ribs...they just aren't that good if you ask me.

Last night on my way to TKD (running late) I noticed my back tire was flat. The one that I had replaced on Sunday. Damnit. So we put it in the car and headed over to Trek. I love that place. They saw me right away, replaced the tube with one that has magic slime in it...and at no extra cost to me. Now that is service. Not like those haughty machinery row people or those willie street slackers. Trek is so friendly, reasonable prices, polite, quick and reliable. Is there any question where you should go to get quality bike treatment? Any at all?

So I didn't go to TKD. Tonight have to go to work from 2:00 to 9:00 to help with a picnic event. I plan on riding my bike to work and then having the DH pick me up later downtown. Apparently I can't ride bike home, even with my bike light. Of course it will probably rain so it's probably a good idea.

I need to go and get some stamps in a few minutes here after I get off the phone with the DH.

Other things on my mind.

Taking driving lessons from Four Lakes Driver Training School. I need actual driving time to get used to being in a vehicle that is the number one cause of accidental death in the United States. I need my effing license to relieve this unconscious stress I have of worrying about how I am going to get to places, working around Tim's schedule, recreational things, doctors appointments, work things, etc . I can't rely on Tim with his new job to work around work when the car is sitting in the driveway....unused. I should call right now and get some info...

There...it's $48 dollars an hour. About 10 hours would be needed for a n00b like me. They pick me up and drop me off. Private lessons. Will do a session on manual at the end in my car if I want. Open spaces available now. In fact, she said "how about next Tuesday?"

I was like "WHOA lady. Too fast. I don't even have my damn permit renewed!"

She said that if it's within a year then it's only 5 bucks to renew...need to go check...
Damn. :( It expired 5-12-05.

God I am such an idiot. It would have been so much easier to just renew and then dick around then have to take the stupid test all over again. *cry* Now to figure out when, what time, study, how to get there, fuckity fuck.

and .... Home Improvement Classes through MATC: Eletrical, Carpentry, and Plumbing every Thursday 6:00 - 9:00PM from 9/14 to 10/5 for a total of 78 bucks. I call that worth it! Knowledge is power (and a money saver!)

Click on photo to get to updated Gallery and view: Fiesta and PacificNorthwest Vacation albums

We went on vacation and did the following:

Camped at Kettle Moraine on the hottest weekend this summer, went swimming in mussel filled lake, went mountain biking where I busted out my back tire, and had a lot of fun catching up with good friends. Sunday we traveled back to Madison and exchanged our camping gear for vacation gear. I managed to pack Tim’s aggressive skates – which mostly took up the biggest suitcase (you see, I could have packed both our stuff in the smaller one for the week. We pride ourselves on not over packing). Then we traveled to Chicago and spent the night at Callie and Jason’s before catching a cab to the airport on Monday morning.

The flight there was on time and smooth, although the MC for the flight totally sucked. Basically we started on a the biggest jet out there, switched to a 16-20 plane and finished off with a 4 seat puddle jumper over to Orcas Island. It was great!

We had time to kill the first day, so after eating and looking around Eastsound (the biggest village on the Island) we went hiking. Now I thought I’ve hiked before….but I didn’t know what real mountain hiking was like. The trails were tough, narrow and utter beautiful because of the old growth trees. I didn’t know trees could get that big. The only thing that marred that first hiking expedition was that I tripped over a root and totally skinned my left knee. Tim heard the whip out and backtracked to find me with a “Oh great. Now our vacation is over. You are gonna need stitches!”

Well, that wasn’t true. The fall did hurt and I wanted to cry, but with a response like that? I couldn’t fall to the darkside. I sucked it up and said “It’s okay, dude. Shit, I’m fine.” The scrape had a pretty deep cut in it, but not deep enough for stitches. I should know, I have had enough of them. It was all covered in that fine, dirty dirty.

“You should clean it out,” Tim said.

“Gimme your water bottle,” I replied and squirted it on my leg while rubbing. It was still numb so it didn’t hurt yet. Of course when I got a good portion of the dirt out, it started to bleed …. a lot.

“We should go back,” Tim stated, with glum air.

“Nah, it’s fine,” I replied and watched the river of blood start down my leg. “Oh maybe just go to the car and get a band aid from the first aid kit.”

“Okay,” Tim answered warily.

We got back to the rental car and dug out my little first aid kit. I wiped it with the antiseptic, wiped off the blood off my leg and slapped a band aid on it. Right as rain. Later on, at the Bed and Breakfast, I recleaned it with soapy water and hydrogen peroxide. It stung all and kept bubbling even after four times…and I just called it good. Put another band aid on it (which I took off later that night so that a scab could form). I still have it – I think it will take another week or so to fall off. Mostly I am thankful that I didn’t fall off the trail, now THAT would have hurt.

Geez. Look how long this is getting….I can’t recap the whole thing. If I did you would end up reading this for days upon days. I mean, do you really want to hear it? It’s such good letter material though….

Yeah, you know what? I’ll just let the pictures talk about it.

Not pictured though…that we did do…was Pike’s Market, more eating, went to the Vogue on Capitol Hill, walked University Ave in the University District, rollerbladed around Green Lake, got extremely lucky in flights and pickups and …general travel karma.

The rest I am going to save for a letter. If you want one, let me know. It feels like I have tons of free time right now…even though I just signed up myself up for a month trial at Monkey Bar gym. I plan on going every day at four o clock. I have the motivation to boost my fitness level and I should take advantage of it.

I also got a bike basket type thing to carry stuff on my bike. It’s cool. The basket is a little rattlely—but it’s so nice to ride bike without constantly adjusting my bag. I also got biker gloves…now I feel like a total nerd, but those gloves have padding and are so comfy.

To sum it up:

Vacation was awesome.

And we missed the cats and Pluto and they missed us.

I just had a pretty awesome morning. First we got up. Then stopped at the post office so I get something notarized. That is an FYI for you folks, the Post Office offers FREE notaries. No more having to worry about if the Bank has one, or if anyone is around. Then we stopped at our credit union to deposit a check from the state for taxes. Then Tim dropped me off at Hilary's.

This is where it gets pretty good. I got a homemade breakfast: Countess Hilarycristo. It was DELICIOUS! Very good. And coffee. Then we packed up ourselves into swimsuits and braved the pool. The sky was overcast still and it was pretty cloudy, but all the rain had already rained itself out. It took some coaxing to get all of us in the water, but in the end the girls didn't want to leave. Typical. I wouldn't have minded staying longer either, but the day is fullish.

Now I am sitting on her futon and enjoying her wireless laptop. God this thing is great. I totally want to get one for myself. I want to sit in my living room or outside patio typing up little posts. It feels so different than just sitting in the office or at work. It's almost like it is fun.

Oh I got postcard stamps! Some lucky winners will be the recipients of postcards from Washington State. I need to make the list when I get home ... if I remember. But I still have to shop for food for camping. Not everything is ready.

I can't believe it's going to be 95 tomorrow...but at least it isn't going to rain. I suppose that is a small solance there. I think this is the hottest it is ever going to be for us on one of our camping trips. I am totally gonna bring my new lounge chaise, a book and a water spritzer to keep myself cool and relaxed. We are also camping in style because we got an air mattress! We tried those self inflating ones first....but after trying one out I knew it was going to suck. It totally for just backpacker camper...not the car campers that we are.

BTW, the Keen sandals are utterly awesome. They are so comfortable. I can't believe how nice they are....and I am really looking forward to wearing them in the water to see just how water proof they actually are.

There was one other thing...what was it....it was....uh.....hm. Now what was it....I was gonna say somet OH yes. I was going to say that when I get home I'll wash my Jen style. Which is to say in the sink, however I am going to use Shampoo instead of dish soap.

oh snap!

The DH and I went out and bought ourselves a pair of Keens. I wasn't going too, but the pair I got were particularily comfortable, and my other "pratical sandals" are starting to hurt my ankles (it's like walking barefoot ... nice for grass....not nice when you walk on pavement or cement all the time). Nice huh? I put them on as soon as we got our Taco Bell treat and then went to Target to get self inflating bedmats for camping this weekend, and to walk the dog upon arriving home. I have no problems with them, although Tim did get a blister with his green ones. Then again, he hasn't worn sandals since like the 5th grade.

Today I went to St. Vincent and bought some shirts and shorts. I also had an iced mocha at Lazy Janes with Hilary, Leta and Mina. Afterward I came home and decreed it was still cool enough to not turn on the air conditioner. I don't approve it being turned on until it reaches or surpases 84. I watched Oprah who is doing a series on debt in america, and tried to make my Buffy T-shirt into a v-neck. The problem I am facing now, is that after wearing it for a few hours it feels like it's stretching more than I would like. No I didn't reinforce the edges with anything, but I did hem it. I just don't like feeling like my bra strap is showing. Now I have to try and figure out a solution to this.....It's hard because the shirt is baggish and large anyway....so doing darts on the top would make it look like a mumu. Hm. Must put on thinking cap.

After that, I went sparring, then home to feed the animals and off to shop.

Geez, I gotta make a list for the things I have to do tomorrow. For now? I am tired. This morning was awful getting to work. I eventually rolled in 45 min late (I called ahead). I simply could not motivate myself to move. I almost fell asleep again on the couch with hot coffee in my hand when I was trying to wake myself up by watching TV!

I'll write you a letter Hilary. That'll be nice.

Last week when I visited Lowen, I caught her while she was cooking for the week. I was so impressed that she made three dishes and put them in the fridge for later use. Well, we have lots and lots of vegetables and they have been piling up a bit, and we have no food...and I was sick of it and inspired by Lowen to do something about it.

So. I made: zucchini bread, fennel au gratin, sweet and spicey gold beets, radish/green bean stir fry with spinach/mixed greens and rice, a cold, beet top (the leafy part) soup, and a fresh, basil pesto for dinner tomorrow night (just make pasta). It took me about 3-4 hours...there were emergency breaks in there when I realized that gold beets are not anything like radishs (whoops!), and we didn't have milk or eggs and DH had to get them on the way home.

Also, I reread my last post and realized that I neglected to use the word "not" in several key sentences. What the heck! I did it three twice for vital sentences that I counted. That is what I get for writing a post over the course of a morning at work. I just open a notepad thing and type...you can minimize them to be super small and since it's only text no one ever suspects a thing. Then I cut and paste it here when I am ready.

Okay, I am going to walk Pluto and then go to bed earlyish. Night!

OH let's see. Where did I leave off?

Right. I left of on Wednesday. Well that makes sense. I ended up working Wednesday, Thursday and Friday last week, and this week I am working Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Its like I have a full time job...okay, almost a full time part time job. Gah! Trust me, the dishes are piling up...(okay they aren't...but the table is covered! and there isn't any food in the refrigerator, laundry is not put away or washed, housework is getting behind). Well, I can't have a messy house before we leave on vacation. For one, there is nothing worse than coming back from fabulous vacation to a dirty, messy house. Second, we have house sitters....and I don't want to leave the house messy for them. Thirdly, Andrew is coming on the 24th, and I don't have time to clean up the spare bedroom and the house in anticipation of his visit.
You heard that Liama...get those yard work things in order!

So let's see...on Thursday I worked, and then...uh....nothing? Yeah. Nothing. I was tired from the 4th weekend, I did go to TKD though and was invited then to see Pirates of the Caribbean with Little Girl and her Mom on Friday. So...Friday after work, I went home and outside to work on a letter, then Little Girl and her Mom picked me up about 5:00 and we headed off to see the Pirates. Of course the show we wanted to see was sold out (the 5.30), but there was a 6.15. So we got tickets for that and went over to Animart to look at animals. The movie was...not as good at the first one. But you know? IT was fun to see a movie in the theater. It has been a long, long time ....and I really like Little Girl and her Mom. We could talk for a lot longer than we do.

Saturday we went to the Dog Park for a one lapper. Pluto didn't like the heat and was pooped pretty quickly. Then I strong armed Hilary into a trip to look at Art on the Square. I actually got my first piece of something at Art Fair -- a decorate bird sculpture that you use as the light switch thing for over head fans/lights. It's awesome and in the office. I want to steal the idea and make a few of my own. I could do it (if I put my back into it.) Then Saturday night Tim and I headed off to a Fiesta themed party with really awesome food, folks and drinks. They made margarita's that might rival Tim's --- their secret weapon? A bottle of corona!

Sunday, I didn't sleep to well because visions of split pants, water fights, fireworks too close to human appendages and houses, and too many margarita's. Eventually I got up and DH and I went to American All Star for breakfast, and then over to Brian and Tonya's for some World Cup action on a HD TV. It's amazing how clear everything is on those. I think the question on everyone's mind is what the heck was said to Zidane to make him all crazy like that?

The rest of the day was spent reading, watching 50 First Dates and the 4400, walking Pluto and eating salad. It took a while for me to get to sleep again...I think everyone has a little summer insomnia right now. I don't think that is necessarily a problem. I mean, we sleep more in the winter so it would only make sense to stay up more in the summer. Right?

I am doing my best to not get overwhelmed by vacation and camping. It's a pretty full week, once it starts. I notice that when I get overwhelmed I get angry easily over things I don't really care that much about when I am calm. Like camping, so many last minute bailers. I don't think that it's that they are not going that bothers me, it's that my time was wasted (because at some point they indicated they would go). It is for this reason that I could never be a big event planner.

Why is commitment such a hard thing to do? It's not that hard, when you think about it. You say you are going to do something, you do it. I don't mean just events, I mean actually commitments that you make to friends, loved ones, your pets and yourself. I know I shouldn't get worked up about it. I remember my Grandmother once wrote in her diary about a coworker. This coworker worked really hard and fast, and my grandmother complained that it was unfair of that coworker to expect the same out of everyone else. "Not everyone is like her or can do the things she can do." I guess that is true. I bet there are some people out there that feel the same way I do about commitment for other things. I had this one friend once who took social politeness to an extreme level and expected the same of others. Tim for example, puts a heavy weight on intelligence, others think sense of humor is important, and still others value timeliness.

So yeah, I gotta get the house in order, do laundry, get the camping stuff ready, pack for vacation and have lots of fun. Man, having fun is lots of work. I really hope it's worth it once we are started on the vacation. I hope our flights all work out, and are arrangements work out. I hope that our house doesn't burn down, or our animals die. I hope Tim and I don't kill each other by the end. ;) No, I'm just kidding. I think it will be fun. I can't believe this is his last week at his current job. Soon he'll have to be leaving the house at the same time as I do (and on his bike!) to get to work, instead of having long leisurely breakfasts. Either that or get up earlier, which is think is very, very unlikely.

I can't believe how far behind I am on letters too. Sheesh.

Guess what? I updated the Gallery -- go and check out June 2006 with a tadbit of July BY CLICKING HERE.

Here is one of my favorites. This is Martha, she's Czech and has been in the US studying this past year and set to go home in July. She was really interested in Native American stuff and asked to see some of my dress components. After some monkeying around, we managed to cobble together an outfit! The result is that she makes a great looking Ho-Chunk:

Top: Eric, Kate, Laima
Bottom: Laura, Tim

Holy 4th of July Weekend Batman!

Thurday, June 29

Typical day at home. I met up with Hilary around 8.30 and we dressed up (photos in gallery to be posted later this week), and went to Cafe Momarte to sit outside and have a drink under the starlit night. It was nice...very nice. The kind of nice that you remember back on fondly when you are 78 years old and remembering the old days of Madison.

Friday, June 30

Werk. I glanced around for garage sales on my way home but didn't find anything. Instead I opted to try out 'quilling' (current project some black eyed susans...hey I'll take a picture later and post it on tceku while watching a horribly trashy movie on lifetime. It was the perfect mental break I needed. Later on the DH came home and took a nap. I biked over to Woodmans and bought us a dinner of: frech bread, cheese ravoli, fancy marinara sauce and salad dressing. We had our own salad fixings at home, we just needed dressing. Dinner we AWESOME!

Then we got changed and went off to The Annex to see Devotchka , and a surprise bonus, the opening band Canasta was quite good. Normally, I don't like live music that I have never heard before, but this time it was an exception. IT was also my first time at the Annex. The venue was a lot bigger and nicer than I expected. I also saw a Timmon's look alike. I wonder how that guy is doing...

I also ran into Mr. Houseman who was there with his girlfriend. That was a nice surprise. :) Was home and in bed by 2:00. I was quite tired.

Saturday, July 1

Slept in. Oh it was nice to sleep in too. I forget what else happened that morning, but Tim and Pluto went off to Petsmart East for Meet and Greet. I stayed home and read a magazine while drinking coffee out on the patio. It was the start of a beautiful day. Later on we picked up vegetables, picked up Laima and headed off to Chicago to see my favorite band in the entire world play a concert (I never thought it would happen, I thought I would have to go to Germany to see them). But first we met up with Eric and Kate and went to eat, played pool at the Gingerman and then too the Metro...well, this is my friends account:

Laima: the whole afternoon/evening surrounding Diary of Dreams was eeeeexcellent.... from the drive filled with good music to the friendly K&E duo to the awesome vietnamesse food (Order #702!) to the whole DoD show..... i got back to M-town around... 5am, i think?

The show was more than excellent, let me tell you. It was fantastic,...great...inspiring...coool....all that in a bundle. The best part? Afterward I got a chance to shake his hand TWICE and have a conversation. *swoon*

Also, I saw Ghengis there! He still hates me with a firey passion, but that didn't stop him from wishing me a good night when we were leaving! Ha ha ha ha.

Sunday, July 2

We got to bed around 6:00Am. I couldn't sleep, I dozed a little for two or three hours before I just got up and zombied my way through the day. Hilary and Mina came over for a visit to Pluto and I. We later went on a search for the perfect outside padded, lounge chair which I ended up getting at Menards, on sale. Seriously, why do I ever bother looking at Farm and Fleet? They never have what I want.

THe rest of the day was spent kind of sleeping on and off. Tim was gone at a marathon gaming session and came back at 7:15 pretty wrecked. But not too wrecked that he couldn't go over to Popeye's for some chow later on. :)

In-laws, Phil, Candace and Kaleb came over and I rode bike downtown with them to watch the madison fireworks. We ended up not at James Madison Park but rather behind the church on top of that hill on the same road. The place that advertises couple's counseling. ;) I only got one skeeter bite for my efforts!

Monday, July 3

Slept in, and MAN oh MAN did that feel good. To be honest I don't quite remember what I did with most of the day. Probably watched some TV, sat outside and read on my new chair, and then went shopping for some video game Tim wanted and then for food. At 6:30 the Samsa's, Laima, Craig, Phil, Candace and Kaleb all came for a BBQ, and firepit session. IT was fun! We ended up going until 12:00 when we shut the party down, again only one skeeter bite for my efforts.

Tuesday, July 4

Woke up, brought some 4th of July cookies over to our neighbors in exchange for the extra housekey -- they had come over Saturday night to let Pluto out. They told me that he didn't go potty once! That means Pluto held it for more than 12 hours! Gah. Stupid dog. Thank god there weren't any accidents.

Then we packed up the dog and headed to Chilton to visit Tim's parents for a very last minute invitation to a BBQ. The first, I would like to add, that we have ever been invited too by the rents. Not just a bbq...but an invitation to do anything! We couldn't really say no to that, now could we? We showed up and were the only two people there, but they had enough food for 12 people. Needless to say, we brought a lot of it home. In exchange for the food, we put together some patio furniture for them, and had a very relaxing afternoon admiring the scenery and the amish. They have amish neighbors across the field and I can't help to watch them. Next time I am bringing binaculars so that I can watch the Amish upclose in thier natural habitat.

Got back around 8ish. I watched Il Postino and then went to bed. I had a horrible time going to sleep because of the fireworks. Finally I had to put in earplugs and that helped.

Tim said this morning that the trashy neighbors decided to set off fireworks at 4 in the morning. Our Schnauzer neighbor came out and yelled at them to stop it. To which our white trash neighbors responded "Suck my cock." She replied "Alright then, I'm calling the police." The White Trashers responded with a defiant firework sent in the neighbors yard (who by the way is two houses down) and then stopped.

We don't know if the police were actually called, but you know the police are always at this house, so I am sure they are kept on the rolodex. It sounds horrible to say, but I kind of hope that the elderly uncle they are taking advantage of, kicks it soon so that they can leave. IF the debts from the uncle doensn't kick them out of the house then the property taxes will. Yeah, I know, 2-3K in taxes doesn't sound like much, but to a bunch of idiotic young adults who doesn't know the first thing are financial responsiblity? Well, that means they will get booted eventually...I just hope it doesn't take two to three years.