Friday, November 28, 2008

The Annual Holiday Mishap

A couple of years ago, I shared how my mom, the Martha Stewart of Montana (minus the insider trading), forgot to turn on the oven for the Christmas turkey.

This year, my dad had the honors. My parents, though long divorced, are somehow on the same wavelength.

About 9:30 yesterday morning, I recieved a phone call that went something like this.

"Happy Thanksgiving, Dad"

"Uh-huh"

"What does that mean?"

"The. Turkey. Is. Still. Frozen."

After my maniacal laughter ceased, he explained to me that apparently, the spare fridge in the garage which had housed the 22 pound bird for 4 days is set just a tad too cold. Yeah. So into the microwave it went. Six minutes at a time, then rotate. And all was fine, as the turkey wasn't nearly as frozen as he thought. So a half hour later, it went into the oven.

And was delicious.

But maybe I'd better handle the turkey next holiday.

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Things I am Thankful For

  • my home
  • both of my parents are alive, mobile, and mentally sharp (sometimes a little too sharp)
  • an interesting job (with benefits!)
  • my friends
  • a great church...filled with wonderful people
  • Buddy and Rowdy (the kitties)
  • the opportunity to go to school this coming year
  • a (small) savings account
  • my little putt-putt

So much more comes to mind. Perhaps we should all make these lists occasionally to remember those very tangible good things that God provides for us. It's too easy for me to remember, and to dwell on, all that I feel is lacking. Really, looking at this list, its clear that my needs and much more are all met. Wow...

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

For Thanksgiving...

...I will be at my dad's house:

a) falling off the low-carb wagon
b) regretting having fallen off the low-carb wagon
c) going back for seconds

This is not multiple choice. I fully intend to do all three. So I guess that would be:

d) all of the above

Thursday, November 20, 2008

It's Official...

I is a kollige stoodint.
That's a bit how I feel. I am beginning this venture with one class (so far) this January. Intro to Algebra. Which I took long ago in 1987. Long ago.
The English class I wanted to take online is full. If something opens up, I will jump in, but for now I will be content to get my feet wet with math!
UPDATE: The English class opened up! A friend at work and I will be online together! :)

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

The Beasties

Cats know how we feel. They don't care, but they know. ~Unknown

Introducing my beasts:

Buddy thinks (okay, he knows) he is the king of everything. If he spoke, I am sure it would be with a posh British accent. Notice how annoyed he is that the paparazzi keep hounding him for photos.
I have to catch him while he is asleep so you can really see how sweet he is.



The boys get along really well. They have ganged up to take over this chair. I really would like to sit in it occasionally.

Rowdy lives up to his name. He's a crazy beast. I can't get him to sit still for a photograph to save my life. This action shot of him sneaking into the shower is literally the only non-blurry photo of him I have. Sigh.

A Walk on the Beach

It's a rare and precious day in November when we have sun here. I'm so glad it is my day off! I live about a mile from the beach here in Mukilteo, so I took a drive down and went for a walk. With my camera.

First, the obligatory Mukilteo Lighthouse photo, complete with the ferry in the background.

Next, we have some seagulls, the official bird of Mukilteo. Not really. I think seagulls are really quite lovely creatures, if only I didn't know them to be the bird that will literally eat everything put in front of it.

I thought the tugboat coming through the channel was pretty neat, especially when I saw what it was towing...three cargo containers full of sawdust from the mill. Amazing what one relatively small tug can do. I am sure there is some spiritual implication in that...

The way the light is so changeable here is really interesting. All these pictures were taken within about a half hour of each other (at which time my battery in the camera went dead).

A good day.


Friday, November 14, 2008

Work and College


I am so thankful. I am technically part-time at work, yet receive full-time benefits. I also have been picking up enough extra shifts that I am getting a full 40 hours a week. And I like my job. And I can leave it at work.

So I have decided to go a little further into the medical realm and begin taking my pre-requisites for nursing school. January is the beginning of a whole new chapter. A four-year (minimum) chapter. An expensive four-year chapter. A difficult, expensive four-year chapter. OK, I'll stop. The chemistry is a little daunting, but there is a semester of algebra (review!) first. It's been a long time since high school!

And I've discovered that I love working in the ER and emergency services in general. Unless something happens to change my mind...that's where I want to stay.

I ask for you all to pray for me!

Sunday, November 9, 2008

This Is for my Mom the Hunter


UPDATE: Here is an actual photo that my little momma sent me of her hauling her 150 pounds of venison up a hill. I just find it so funny that my mom, at mmfxty-something, has truly embraced her rural Montana lifestyle. Complete with the orange vest. Now I know where I get that little bit of adventure in me! (But I don't anticipate any orange vests in my future...it's really not my color.)




My mom went this week and bagged a deer. I am assuming this picture was not taken on her trip.


Book Review: Austenland by Shannon Hale


Who could resist a book called Austenland? Certainly not me!

Jane Hayes is a 30-something single woman with a major problem. None of the men she dates can measure up to Pride and Prejudice's Mr. Darcy. Oh, and this is the dark, handsome, brooding, but deep inside shy in public situations Mr. Darcy as portrayed by Colin Firth in the A and E version. Sigh.

Jane's elderly aunt leaves a bequest in her will, not cash, but a 3-week stay in Austenland, a vaction estate where the guests must dress and behave as though they are in Regency England. Sound fun, until you remember that the noble gentlemen, the gardeners and the rest of the staff are actors, and in real life are not what they seem. Does Jane find her Mr. Darcy? Does that man even exist?

This was a fun and quick read with quite a few laugh-out-loud moments. I knew I was hooked from the introduction, which reads:

For Colin Firth

You're a really great guy, but I'm married,

So I think we should just be friends.

PS Thanks, mom, for leaving me your P and P video. I will try to stop watching it at least once a week. Or not.

I'm Back

After a month-long blogging hiatus, I am back, with lots of thoughts and ideas that have been percolating in my (somewhat) dormant mind. I have a new laptop, and an internet connection at home, and now both of my loyal readers (that was only a very small joke) can expect to hear from me more often.

Stay tuned!