Kingfisher Cove

OMG! What a Fun Time!

Since we were in our 20s, there has been this group of us girls that graduated from high school together who meet annually around the holidays for lunch or brunch. I didn't attend last year because I believe it fell on a weekend when we just had to get away to Harstine. So it was really fun to see everyone again, and then I do believe that of all the get-togethers we've had over all these years, this was the very best one of all! Everyone just seemed so relaxed and engaged and funny and interested — as well as interesting!  (Helen would also be a part of this group as she graduated from high school with all these girls, too, but she's lived in Oregon since graduating from college so she's generally on her way home on the Sundays we've gotten together). 

Here is the group of us — click on these to enlarge: (I'm the one with "legs"... And many of you know Margaret, the iddy biddy cute thing in the very front in the teal top).

Here is Margaret and our friend, Di. I have known Di since the 2nd grade. (Since we were seven years old!) The second semester of our senior year of high school, I returned to Washington State from Maine (where my family had moved the summer before) and I lived with Di and her family until we graduated. We lived in her bedroom with twin beds and we were "sisters" for all those months. I have really wonderful memories of that time (so long ago...) Then when I had Nate, she was his daily babysitter for the first entire two years of his life. It was way beyond babysitterdom — she and her husband and her two young daughters were Nate's second family. There is a special bond among them all to this day. And I'm so excited that Di just became a first-time grandma in September!

This is me and Mary. I've known Mary since grade school, too, and her mom was our Girl Scout Leader. She has four daughters; her oldest is 28 and her youngest is 12!

After lunch, several of us went over to P's house (she's the blond in the back row in first picture above) and drank some wine and really caught up on our lives. P was one of those "popular" girls I really didn't know very well in high school, but over all these years of these get-togethers, she and I have really become buds. She's a hoot! She's one of those gals who "says it like it is", and I have always appreciated that in people. I think she appreciates that in me, too. It was great to have a chance to really talk with Di. When you have some one-on-one time like that, the reconnection is so incredible. Life is so full of interruptions and distractions and time-gone-by, and I believe that as we are aging, we are all appreciating how important we are to each other. It's weird; we're all 52 or 53 years old now. Middle-aged, most of us with children in their 20s, one even with a 30-year-old. Several grandmothers. (And then, also, some with no children at all). We are diverse, but we do have common history!

It was such a fun day. It's been such a fun four-day weekend. We spent yesterday with my brother and his family and had a total ball! We may not see eye-to-eye politically, but I sure do appreciate genuinely liking my brother and his wife and his daughter (you know, let alone loving them). Stay away from the nitty-gritties of politics and we totally, absolutely enjoy each other. We went to dinner at Nate's restaurant and since he didn't have to work, he was able to join us — and we got a nice discount because he works there! It was fun to see all his coworkers and managers fawn over him, and to see how well-regarded he is.

Family and friends! Can't get any better than that!

Sure dreading going back to real life tomorrow, though...  

Scenes from Soapmaking and Friendshipping

What a ball! First, Helen and I headed to the birdseed store and stocked up on fun stuff, including this adorable little Beanie-Baby-type stuffed KINGFISHER! (I couldn't resist). When you squeeze it, it chitters! (Just like a real Kingfisher!) Of course Bailey, the long-haired weenie who adores squeaky toys, was — and continues to be — totally convinced that it's for her. Squeaky toy, chitter toy, it's gotta be for Bailey! (Uhm, don't think so).  We also visited Trader Joe's which is two doors down from the birdseed store (so that makes a fun outing). We always get fun stuff at Trader Joe's!

Then we came home and made our first Cadillac Margarita and started in on soapmaking.  [Update: JDub noted that there's a seagull perched on my drink!]

Soapmaking is messy, but it "cleans up" well!

Part of the tradition now is laughing our lips off at Mojo getting high on home-grown catnip (that Helen sewed up inside a fabric mouse complete with twine tail!)

It was wrapped (and taped) in tissue paper and he tore it out of there and has been off & on carrying on/slobbering/thumping/squirreling around with it all evening. What a nut. 

The following picture is for Joolie over at Oh, My Stars and Garters! She sent me a star "ice cube tray" and I made these way cute little star soaps!

OK, I'm pooped. I have a hunch I'll be hearing Mojo thumping on his catnip mouse throughout the night...

Happy Turkey Day

                                                              Nom!

A Full Four-Day Weekend!

Wow, we are so popular! So "in demand!" How do we rate? Let's see, first we're spending Thanksgiving with JDub's folks (I'm assuming Nate will be with his dad's side of the family, but that's up to him to arrange); then on Friday Helen is coming and we're making soap and drinking Cadillac Margaritas (picked up the "ingredients" today after work); then Saturday my brother and his family are coming over in the afternoon and we'll all go out for dinner at the restaurant where Nate works. He's on-call that evening, so I don't know for sure whether he'll be joining us for dinner, or if he'll be SERVING our dinner! When I made reservations, I made them for enough to include him just in case, and also requested that we be seated in his section if he is working. And then, on Sunday I'm meeting up with a bunch of girls I went to high school with for our annual holiday get-together lunch. Whew! I'm really not sure when decking the halls for Christmas will occur. Obviously not this weekend! And I'm pretty much expecting that we'll head down to Harstine next weekend (unless the weather is truly sucky, which it very well could be). 

Have one more work-day to get through this week. Thankfully, it hasn't been an uber-demanding week because I have not felt particularly motivated! I should probably do Part One of my salad tonight. But I'm thinking that Part Two should probably occur the morning of Thanksgiving instead of tomorrow night so the apples don't turn brownish. So...Part One could well happen tomorrow night. (I think I've talked myself into that scenario.) My lazy bad.

What Are You Making for Turkey Day?

This year, I'm contributing a salad for Thanksgiving at JDub's parents' house. I asked JDub what salad I ought to make and this was his idea. I haven't made it in a long time, but I do know that it's veddy yummy!

Caramel Apple Salad

20 oz. can pineapple chunks
1-1/2 Tbs. white vinegar
2 Tbs. flour
1/2 C. sugar (1/4 C. if less sweetness desired)
1 egg
2 C. miniature marshmallows
5-1/2 C. Granny Smith apples (3-4 large ones)
12 oz. Cool Whip
1 bag caramels
6 oz. peanuts

Day Before: Combine pineapple juice and vinegar in saucepan; add flour, sugar, and egg. Heat until pasty. Remove from heat and add pineapple chunks and 2 C. of miniature marshmallows. Stir until blended, refrigerate overnight.

Next Day: Cut apples into small pieces, cut caramels into bite-size pieces (quarter). Mix in Cool Whip, peanuts, apples, and caramels. Makes a large bowl, good for potluck.

Mojo and Me Made an LOLCat!!

Listy Stuff

1. Norton's protection/fix scan takes for-fricken-ever. And hugely slows down my computer while it runs in the background.
2. I'm cooking a pot roast. (In the mood for comfort food). Fancying up the recipe a bit (we'll see...)
3. Need to pick up ingredients at liquor store for Cadillac Margaritas. (Lessee, tequila, Grand Marnier, Margarita mix. I think that's it...)
4. Need to dig out my apple/caramel salad recipe that I'm going to make for Thanksgiving. (Num)
5. Feeling a bit better. Showering and dressing exhausted me, though!
6. Laundry's going.
7. My cleaning lady (Hispanic lady with 4 kids) had her purse stolen with my check in it. Had to stop payment (which the credit union charges $25 to do! Highway robbery!) And I wrote her another check with a little extra. I'm sure she is very distraught during these hard times to have something awful like that happen. I reckon awful things like that will happen more frequently with the tanking economy—watch your purses, ladies!
8. Been doing a little bit of Christmas shopping. Need to do quite a bit more. (I sort of enjoy the shopping, I just often have a tough time coming up with good ideas).
9. I was actually able to play my computer game for a while last night without it crashing. Until it crashed again. (Sooooo frustrating!)
10. I have not even begun my Christmas newsletter yet. Usually I have it at least started in October. I haven't gotten my head/arms wrapped around the fact that Christmas is on the horizon. Have you?

I Needed This

After one of the most demanding work-weeks in a long time (while sick), today I slept in until almost 10:00 a.m.! Since then I've been drinking coffee, blowing my nose, lounging in my jammies, surfing the net, coughing, drinking more coffee, and blowing my nose. I feel pretty rotten (and I look like hell), but it does feel good to not have to majorly engage my brain and rush around a gazillion mph.

During my web surfing ventures, I came across this interesting article about the now-famous Puppy Cam, and the puppies themselves. They are growing — six weeks old now — and will soon be leaving the nest to their new homes. What will we do with ourselves?

The "Puppy Wranglers" say that this breed probably wouldn't be suitable for the Obamas because they need to be leashed or kept in a fenced area because they are 'prey-seekers', whatever that means. (Cat killers?) And that they are not hypoallergenic. Is there really such a thing as a hypoallergenic dog? What would it have to be, hairless?

Cuteness!

Here is some interesting information about the Shiba Inu.

Cold or Flu? (Regardless, Feeling Like Crap)

When I was a kid (and then into adulthood), I understood this: a cold was respiratory and the flu was digestive/stomach (i.e., throwing up). I'm confused now, because so many people these days also refer to the respiratory thing as the flu. I dunno. I do know that both JDub and I feel like utter crap—he felt shitty enough today to come home from work early and take two crashing naps. We don't have a thermometer, so we don't know if we've had fevers, but there have definitely been the aches and chills/flushing that are typical fever-symptoms. Man, it's been just awful to absolutely have no choice but to go to work (and work my ass off) all week. I feel bad because I'm sure I've exposed others to my germs, even though I've been very careful. I get frustrated with others who come to work sick. But our work culture just doesn't allow for us to have the "luxury" of staying home for the duration of being sick! We have responsibilities, deadlines, expectations! Obviously, if I were throwing-up-sick, I'd have absolutely no choice BUT to be home in bed! (So I guess it depends on the severity of the symptoms. I may be miserable, but I'm not physically knocked to my knees.)

I am, however, seriously considering staying home tomorrow! I hate feeling guilty about doing that, but jeesh. I don't feel good! (And I have no deadlines or commitments tomorrow). Ya gotta weigh these things.

Today, in spite of feeling like a Mac truck ran me over and ripped open the nasal-geyser, it was pretty fun being away from the office with my coworkers and taking a class on grammar, punctuation, proofreading, and editing. Probably sounds boring, but I enjoy this kind of stuff. I learned a lot! I also learned that I KNOW a lot! (I sort of suspected that, but it was nice to have it substantiated!) Ms. Jodie Foster accompanied us, and I really enjoy her company. I respect her as my supervisor, of course; but I also very much like her as a person and a friend — knowing that friendship in that role has to be relative. I just really connect with that super lady.

~~~~~

On a different — but related — subject, check this out: "Obama's Use of Complete Sentences Stirs Controversy" (It's great!)

Heh

OK, so bed beckons, but I'm not there yet. I've been perusing Bloggersville and once again this site manages to crack me up (and in a perverse way, make me feel better!)

"Has it occurred to anyone else that the Republican party has become the party of money, guns and sex? It seems to be the only things they think about.  Who is having sex with who?  How much are my taxes?  Keep your hands off my guns.  I really think they would explode if a gay couple used their tax refund to purchase an AKA assault rifle."

Just needed a little levity. (Masked in truth...)