Ironically

I hate it when people just post pictures to a blog with no commentary. OR they are clearly missing big bits of life (ie she flew home to Seattle and isn't saying anything about it. WHY NOT!?).

So I flew home. And kitty and I both survived. I am not sure Shupa (Flora/my Dad's cat) is going to make it through. He seriously wants to be friends and little miss (Mei-Mei) is not about to have any of it. Again. It's a replay of last holiday season.

I am having a good time, even if I have managed to percolate a cold/sinus infection of some sort. So I far I have seen mostly my parents and Declan and Mary Alyce a couple of times. I really, really need to throw in my cousins (Riah and Jerusha, and kiddos!) and Robin (and Lorie Mae). Especially with the kiddos I feel like I am missing huge chunks of their lives. They are completely different. I am sure I won't even recognize Sheep cat from our brief introduction last year (yeah Gaby!).

So now I photo dump. And they aren't even mine! These are the hike my dad and I and his idiom class students went on Sunday. We had SOO much fun. I really enjoyed it. It did take a while (long while) to completely thaw out.

Seattle here I come . . .er Thursday

I am so excited, I feel like I am rumbling from the bottom up (That may be my upset stomach from three cups of coffee though. Damn the free office coffee!). I am freaked out about money (Christmas and travel are never just the cost of the ticket) but I soooo pleased that I will be able to see my friends and family soon. I have never been away from "homebase" for so long. It's been an entire year since I last touched Washington (State of) soil. And while I have become accustomed and happy here in DC, there is a large part of my heart (Declan, Mary Alyce, Riah, Jerusha, Robin (and Lorie Mae), Hillary, Danielle, Mary and Marc, Aunt Janet, the list continues . . .) is bound to Seattle peoples. I am missing milestones, birthdays, first steps, first games. And all the non-milestones, the reading to kiddo at night, being available when a helping hand makes the difference. I am missing all of that too.

I am not moving back. I wish I could say I have a plan that makes that even remotely a possibility. Job economy being what it is, I don't forsee changes in the future. The only change even close will be school (keep me in thoughts and prayers; turn circles under the moon if you think that will help). Unless something alters, it won't be Seattle school even.

I have been lucky and blessed to be able to see my parents this year, even without going to Seattle. And Hillary! (I figure eventually even Dad will be forced to come visit me in DC if I have to stay long enough).

I guess what I am saying is: Life may be different; I can't make moving to Seattle a priority right now. But I am awfully glad to have loved ones like you (you know who you are) even when you are far away.

And in two days, most of you will be a heck of a lot closer!!

Flying home with the kitty

I am flying to Seattle on the 18th (Friday) to visit the family and see all my friends. This should be wonderful! I am so excited to have some time away from work (though I will miss somethings in DC). I promise to return to updating my blog with info and pictures as the new year rings in.

Mischief's new favorite location

Mischief's new favorite location since we returned successfully from Christmas at my parents is the couch. Specifically my green soft throw blanket. She has progressed from just sleeping on it to snuggling under it, digging until it wraps around her. I noticed in the last few days that she has had threads between her nails, tufts of something. I found out this evening. . . blanket.

Needless to say I am putty to my kitty. She is been pretty chubby and I worried during Christmas that I was making the chubby worse. Since we have been home however, Mei-mei has not been eating that much and I have been trying to find the right combination of food for my girlie-girl. I am sure that my mother is right and kitty will settle in and get to eating me out of house and home. I am just a worry-wart and would feel better if she started sooner rather than later.

Christmas was an odd celebration this year. With Western Washington state completely snowed in for all intents and purposes the celebration was rather more quiet than normal. It took until the end of the stay to even be able to find a way to travel safely out and about and visit. After being diverted from my original landing time to Spokane on Saturday the whole trip seemed shorter than normal. My sense of time is all off.

The Twilight Zone marathon on Sci-fi channel for the New Year's has provided almost endless enjoyment for me. I do love the mystery of the unknown! Added to it all interspersed today with Chuck that I had recorded and been saving to watch without Samantha, who really doesn't like it!

Thankful for Oscar and for Mischief

As some of you know, on Thanksgiving day we had to put Oscar down. Just thinking about it still makes me cry. But I am glad I was able to spend a day working for the floor at home and snuggling with Oscar on Wednesday. Mischief quickly put Nani in her place and made herself comfortable. But she didn't seem to mind my Oscar dog and they even stayed snuggling with me seperately on my bed for a while. Unfortunately Oscar was pretty fragile already from what we suspect was cancer in his liver.  When he hurt his hip on Thankgiving there wasn't much that we could do for him that would be not too painful. He was a wonderful dog and will always be my favorite first dog ever. I am really greatful to have Mischief to snuggle with when missing Oscar gets too bad. 

Busy work and busywork

Work has kept me busy. Emotionally contemplative and evaluating to office interplay and politics, but not mentally on my toes. I am looking forward to a learning curve in future jobs that has less to do with learning personalities and more with learning. Despite this, I am enjoying getting paid and being occupied. And just like everything else, this is a good learning work experience. It will be good experience anywhere that has office politics (which is any job, really).

On a more fun note, I love my kitty. Mischief is wonderful, with many lovable and hilarious quirks that make her real and not just a furry lump. When I got her she a little extra weight. I have been trying asiduously to help shave her down the a sleeker size. Apparently cat dieting is not my forte. I am seriuosly thinking she has gotten larger and not smaller. I had been feeding her the store brand cat food she came with until she ran out. Then I tried a natural IAMS chicken and rice blend. It worried me when she didn't seem interested in eating it consistently for the first few days. So I went and bought Purina ONE weight control. I had intended to buy the super natural kind from the pet store, but Metro had a hiccup the same day so I just headed to Safeway rather than possibly getting stuck somewhere away from home by the fire between Metro Stations. The long and short is that Mischief doesn't consistently love this one either AND she still seems chubbier. What is a kitty-mama to do?

Considering I have sick old dog at home with my parents, I am just hoping both my beloved animals can continue comfortably and healthily forever, though I know that is not realistic. My funny Oscar dog has been the best friend a growing girl could have. Unfortunately he hasn't felt up to causing trouble lately. I am praying he will feel better soon, that by the time Thanksigiving comes around Oscar will be up to enjoying some turkey and gravy.

Easter is coming, and the box is still waiting

Tomorrow is my birthday and Easter is Sunday. Time is a flying. Mom was amazing and sent me a "cake" in a box: devil's food cake, instant chocolate pudding, and cherry pie filling. She told me to be on the look out for another one, which I am very looking forward to. I made the birthday gift into a chocolate cherry cake for Angela and Michelle, friends from college who stayed with me the night before last. We took a middle of the night tour of the city in a Zipcar, after we picked up Angela from Union Station at 1 am after her train was held up in New York for 2 hours. I really enjoyed having visitors, but I definitely delayed getting out of town to North Carolina yesterday meandering about my morning.

Today Missa and I both woke late and went to the Southpoint Mall to return somethings. I bought sunglasses and a top that was on sale. Tonight we went to a wonderful dinner at a Cuban style restaurant. Now we are watching a movie and some basketball with the Matts and Missa. Its a mellow way to spend Easter break, but I am enjoying different vistas and voices.

When 26 degrees seems warm

I got home just now from spending the long weekend in New York with my best friend, Samantha. Getting off the Chinatown bus in DC the temperature seemed balmy and warm in comparison to the wind chill and freezing weather of NYC. I had wonderful weekend, attending a party celebrating Samantha's roommate's birthday and meeting some of her friends. Saturday we went out to eat at an "Irish" pub just north of Columbus Circle on the upper West Side. We lunched on shepherd's pie and chicken pot pie. It was fun, but I definitely feel the need to make my own shepherd's pie that is better! I know that I can do it! That night we mellowed a little, watching that wonderful film "Joe vs. the Volcano," a Tom Hanks classic. Then we went out to meet with friends on the upper West Side, enjoying some bad NYC service.

Yesterday (for those of you who know and care?) football playoff happened. We watched all day. Or rather, Samantha and later her friend Emily watched. I read and occasionally paid attention. Though I have to say I was disappointed when the Packer's lost, because then Emily felt forced to make disappointed faces and take pictures of them. Actually, that was kinda fun.

After the weekend with wind chills taking the temps under 0 degrees Fahrenheit, DC at 26 (heading into the teens tonight) seems balmy with out the wind.

Consider this year. . .

This is an article from today's Washington Post. Food banks are having shortfalls and increasing numbers of people applying for assistance. For some reason, this need really hit home with me.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/12/07/AR2007120702600.html?wpisrc=newsletter

As you think of Christmas coming up, consider making this a part of your holiday giving. Often I think of programs like toys for tots or angel tree. But even more important than gifts for children, is Christmas dinner for families. I know there are increasing numbers of people being affected by this morgage crisis and needing essential assistance like food banks to help get them through a rough patch.

Frankie sings Christmas and I do laundry

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Now playing: Frank Sinatra - I'll Be Home for Christmas (If Only In My Dreams)
via FoxyTunes

Going to do laundry and study but wanted to share to Christmas moment.

Wonderful picture

This is the picture of my wonderful parents in front of their newly decorated house. Isn't it great! Christmas is here.

Second, this is just warning. If I don't call you or respond to your call in anything approaching a timely fashion until the 18th, I am desperately sorry. But I have finals in less than two weeks and I figured out that I have to review at least a chapter and a section of orgo and biology respectively for at least a that long. How bad is that?! So basically I went to buy a half pound of Christmas blend Starbucks and a I am considering investing in full pound before the week is over. I love you all. And do call. I enjoy know that you are thinking of me . . . but sorry if I don't get back to you right away.

New York after Thankgiving!

These are some of pictures of Samantha and I in New York this weekend. I really enjoyed the time off and away from DC and even from Seattle. Nothing to do but enjoy (and study, yes, yes). But we also caught a movie, Disney's Enchanted, which I have to say I throughly enjoyed. Partly because it had Patrick Dempsey aka McDreamy. It also had fun with the ridiculous concepts of love Disney style, with happily everafters guaranteed. You may think of Steven Sondheim's musical "Into the Woods," but this was definitely not as dark ending. This one had a happy ending as well as a measure of unreality but was still really enjoyable. I thought it was a pretty good kid movie too!

We went shopping yesterday I got some very enjoyable items, filled in some more holes of my Christmas gifts. I am really looking forward to giving these away! We stopped to look at the unlit Rockefeller Christmas tree. There were thousands of people in the area and trying to take a picture. It was crazy. Which continued as we walked north. Good thing we had filled up with Olive Garden earlier, soup and salad and bread sticks. We stopped at the Apple store, as I said yesterday. But fairly quickly moved into Central Park where I took some of the later pictures of the arch and leaves falling. We tried to catch tea at Alice's tea shop on 73rd, but the wait was long and we settled for Starbuck's across the street.

Topped with a Barnes and Noble stop, a dinner at a Chinese restaurant interestingly named "Ollie's" which was busy but fun, and then a movie, it was a wonderful after Thanksgiving day.

In New York with Samantha

And it is really starting to get East Coast cold. I decided that since I had never been in to FAO Schwartz, we would try there. But  . . .  a long line started around the block and that idea fell by the wayside. I wasn't going to buy anything . . .  all of New York is starting to get all hopped up for Christmas. It is a very different change from Thanksgiving with Hope and the girls which was very laid back. And nice. I am feeling excited to get home and finish out my year strong in school. Really make a serious showing in my classes.

The trip up yesterday was very quick. I can't laugh enough about the great deal that are the Chinatown bus lines. 35 dollar round trips just seems insane. How can you make money at that? 

I will post pictures from up here tomorrow when I get home. Right now I am typing from Apple store which is really a cool structure. I am impressed. Then I think a quick walk through Central Park to walk off the Olive Garden lunch. And the enjoy the crisp air. I think I will definitely have opportunity to use my new "cashmere" scarf I bought to interchange with the wool one  I have been wearing so frequently already. I am impressed the wool one has done so well, since Mom and I bought them with Dad in DC my sophomore year in high school. That is a really long time ago!

Sorry for the scattered thoughts. I will talk more coherently again soon! 

Later . . . after the turkey.

Quite a bit fuller after eating lots of turkey, these are family pictures and a few more of the girls around the lake. I thought about taking a picture of the pumpkin pie, but the concept of even looking at another bit of food hurts my over full stomach. Isn't wonderful for all of us that Thanksgiving only come once a year! May everyone be so blessed today.

Thanksgiving day!

PS. there are more pictures posted on Picasa Web albums. Just click on the link to My Pictures!

Things are . . . going. But today is Thanksgiving. And for that I am truly thankful. We all need the rest and recuperation. Some time to rest. Here are some pictures is the day so far.