Things Joe Has Taught Me

Not everything has to be done "right now"
Being a git-er-done kind of person, I want everything solved, completed, or fixed today. Yesterday would be nice, too. But that's just not feasable. There is, of course, a time and a place for quick and decisive action, and my nature will come in handy there. In my private life...I'm learning to slow it down a bit.

Being kind is a two-way street
I love to spoil my guy. I think he deserves it. The pleasant surprise has been, that my little bits of sweetness are given right back in different ways. Unexpected ways, like the sharing of his GPS this week. With Joe, sharing of the electronics is huge. Really huge.

It's good to treat yourself to things once in a while
This has always been hard for me. I have always felt guilty spending money on myself. But Joe encourages me to occasionally get new clothes or my hair done, because he says I work hard and deserve a little treat once in a while.

I am so thankful to have him!

A Little Political Humor

Just in case the Dems need some ideas for a new logo...

These are a Few of My Favorite Things

Well, really...what could be better than a video combining IKEA and cats?

Herding Cats

Love

If you live to be a hundred, I want to live to be a hundred minus one day so I never have to live without you.

~A. A. Milne

The Funniest Answer I Have Heard to an ER Question in a Long Time

Yesterday I overheard a co-worker checking in a patient. From the answers she was receiving, it was clear that the patient was not the brightest bulb. That assessment was confirmed when Anna asked, "And do you have a religious preference?" After a long, thoughtful pause, the lady answered, "You mean, like, White?" Anna deserves a raise, because she was able to not laugh, and calmly typed in "none".

I suppose in some places "White" might be considered a religion (insert Northern Idaho joke here).

My Childhood Home as I Know it is Gone....(subtitle: a trip to the ER)

Lest you think I am terribly sad...I am so relieved for my Dad's sake that it is sold! Now he is so fortunate that he will not have a mortgage payment at all. How many people can say that!?

Of course, the last weekend at the house was full of work, lots of work, cleaning, last minute closet and garage emptying after 36 years of accumulation, and detail projects that had to be done.

After the last bit was put on the trucks, we had a small 5 minute project to tackle. Really, it should be easy to install a new spring on the garage door. Until an 8-foot flourescent light fixture came down on Dad's head. Right in the middle of the bald spot. And shattered. Thank goodness he listens to me. I took one look, said "Oh, now we get to go to the ER" and he didn't even give me an argument. For once. They removed a 3/4 inch shard from his head and put 6 staples in to the 2-inch laceration.

He's fine. A bit of a headache. But also relieved to be done with the house!

From Here to There (and Back Again)

Now that my drive to work is around 40 minutes most mornings, and about 50 minutes in the evenings, I am using that time to de-stress from work, and to "read" some books that I haven't had much time for lately. In the mornings sometimes I like to listen to Seattle's classic rock station's (say that with a big booming reverb voice) morning talk show, which is a group of guys that discuss everything in the world. Their perspectives are always diverse, and I sometimes think they take opposite sides of the issues to make for interesting conversation. It's funny.

And on the way home I have been listening to Donna Leon's Commisario Brunetti novel, Suffer the Little Children. The books are set in Venice, and follow Brunetti's cases. My attachment to Brunetti stems, I find, from his relationships with people, particularly his wife, Paola. They share an ease and an appreciation for each other that I would emulate. Leon's books, however, make me wish I knew much, much more about good wine.

Completed Chairs and Other Stuff

Here they are! My mom did a gorgeous job on the slipcovers. We broke them in tonight with my guy, his momma and his aunt. I'm so happy with how my apartment is coming together.
The kitties are both settling in, and since mom is leaving tomorrow, I will really begin my nesting too. I'll post more pictures as I add new things and work on new projects! So far my sewing has been limited to a couple of these pillow covers (mom did the other two!).

Wishing I Could Feel Guilty...

I am sitting here in the new apartment, listening to Mom as she is working on reupholstering my two dining room chairs. It's 1120 pm, and we had a nice dinner and coffee with my prodigal son and his girlfriend. But here is mom, back at the place, plugging along on the sewing machine.

I bought the two chairs a year ago at IKEA, because they were on clearance (for $20 a piece), and are a nice shape, and, after all, how hard can it be to get slipcovers or reupholster them? Oops. No slipcovers available...so "hey Mom, can you do my chairs while you are here?". She should have said "no". I think she's put in about 12 hours on them. They look great, and they aren't even done. But they will be wonderful. I have great faith in her.

She probably wishes she'd put her foot down...but oh, I can't even feel a bit guilty!

Pictures to follow (if she ever finishes them!).

Reading Books about Death Right Before Bed

I was a little concerned last night that I would have nightmares. I just started reading a history of the worst avalanche disaster in the country. The White Cascades is engrossing, written as engagingly as a novel. But I made the mistake of skipping to the appendices and reading the list of the 96 who perished. It was heartbreaking, as I had already become attached to some of the people, even though they lived and died in 1910.

However, I think I might be even more concerned that I didn't have nightmares and slept like a baby.