Blissfully Unaware of the Chaos the Surrounds Me

Early Morning Internet . . .

{almost} every morning I look over 5-6 online editions of newspapers. But not the ones you might think. Nope, no biggies for me, other than the Sacramento Bee. Because of my j-o-b, I read a bunch of small local papers. Some only come out weekly. Which cuts down on my daily reading. Immensely. 

So on days like today, when I woke up 6:15 and couldn't go back to sleep (hello? It's Saturday!), I read fun blogs. Crazy idea, huh? And then I get even crazier ideas, like places I want to go, projects I want to do, recipes to try . . . it's a dangerous time in the morning around here! Some links that I've pondered today, all before 7:00 am:

Queen Bee Market. So help me, I am planning a trip to San Diego next year for this. Quite likely by myself. (Do not distract me while I am delighted with all of these beautiful items!)

I am really wondering if my Gram's teeny tiny 95th birthday celebration would be a great excuse to have Wild Ink Press design something for me? Because I don't think that John is ready to renew our vows after five years! But if we ever do, I am totally going with these amazing local artists! I am actually stalking my own mailbox because I am expecting an invitation to an upcoming wedding that they designed for. And I really, really want to see/feel/possibly taste it! (Were you unaware that I am a paper-freak?)

Adventure Playland. Wouldn't this be an amazing addition to our local parks program? You could do all sorts of fantastic programs with a facility like this . . . summer hours, field trips, team building, camps . . . me likey. 

How my backyard google search led me to this, I'm not quite sure, but I kind of love it. A lot. Outdoor Scrabble, anyone?

Ya'll know that I love small motorhomes, right? That if John and I stumbled onto $50K, we'd buy a 24-28 foot used Class C cabover and hit the hills every chance we could? (We wouldn't even think about doing anything responsible with the money, lets be perfectly clear!) But look at these very cool, new urban-kinda kicks. Roadtrek Motorhomes are probably too small to travel about with a big family, but as a couple? Oh yeah . . .      

And with that, I need to continue my Google-driven morning. Before the rest of the house wakes up. Grey peep-toe shoes are next on my list . . . maybe with lace embellishments? 

Mini DVDs Do Not Go Into . . .

your fancy DVD drive on your Mac. Because if they go in (which they do), they don't come out. Ouch.

In a moment of stupidity, I put a mini-DVD disc into my Mac disc drive. Crapola. I guess I'll be making an unexpected trip to an Apple store sometime in the very near future. 

The plus side? I'm ready to buy a new MacBook Air anyway. Maybe I can shop while they fix this? Could it be that simple? All without damaging the disc that currently resides in the disc drive . . . Halle coming home from the hospital?

Moving onto the day ahead . . . I get to have breakfast with Lauren and Lynn. Two of my very favorite people in the whole world. We even scheduled two hours for breakfast because that's just how it always goes!

Then this afternoon, Dylan and I will head over to my Gram's to do some interviewing. (Thus the reason my camcorder mini-DVDs were out and tempting me :))

After that, we have a family-appointment at the chiropractor. Especially useful since I put Halle to bed last night and fell asleep on her bed until 2:00 am. Whoops.

The we'll head downtown for a concert in the park. A good, relaxed, fun Friday to round out the summer! (Other than my technical issue, that is!)

Say It Isn't So . . .

How can it possibly be the end of summer? Impossible! I am seeing all of my Facebook friends post their "first day of school" pictures and the grim realization is, our kids go back next Tuesday. August 16th. It makes no sense to me. We'll end up having a heat wave and the kiddos will spend the first month doing PE in the 105 degree temps. Yuck. I am so serious about mounting a campaign to return to a traditional school year. So serious.

I have, however, not completely ignored the inevitable. Dylan has a new backpack. He even has some new shorts - not that he's bothered to try them on to see if they fit or anything. I even scheduled a haircut for him! (I'm not ignoring that Halle will also return to preschool, I am simply acknowledging that I don't buy her anything anymore because she doesn't wear anything new. We now have three worn-out dresses in the rotation. That's good for us . . . I'm not going to push the envelope!)

We also are cramming lots of end-of-summer goodness into this week. We made the trek down to Sunsplash on Monday . . . 28 of us, in all. Super fun day, although I swear that I am not taking Halle next year! John and I want to go and ride the slides together. She wants to play in the cabana and go in the wave pool. Which is great and all . . . but we like the big slides, baby! The kids all had fun, and we grown-ups snuck in some fun too. Nothing like sitting on a quad-tube with three other grown-ups, all of squealing like little girls!

Tuesday I managed to get a ton of work done (yeah for John being home!) and we had a family movie night (Mars Needs Moms). Wednesday I also managed to get some stuff off my desk. It's like a new habit!

Today I'm heading up to Redding for a five-hour CalPERS training. Not sure how I'm going to stay awake in that one! The good news? I'm still finishing my predisone taper and while it is making it 100% impossible for me to get any rest at night? I do have a heck of a lot more energy during the day. Hate this stuff, but I ma down to just one (largish) patch of poison oak and (please dear Jesus), don't seem to have any more new outbreaks popping up. Who knew that poison oak could continue to pop up and spread for up to 4 weeks? I'm counting myself lucky to be (hopefully) nearing done at three weeks!

Lots of other stuff going on, but I've to head out the door. One little quickie, however, is that I finally gave up on Google Calendar and iCal. John and I were having a heck of a time getting our calendars to sync. So I am trying out Cozi. We're in early days, but I have to say that I'm kinda digging it! We upgraded to the ad-free (paid) version and both have the apps for our phones. We don't love the monthly calendar view, but the ease of use, weekly and daily views can't be beat. Plus I love the to-do lists! And I love that I can add to John's to-do list :) Anyway, if you're looking for a great calendar to get the school year started right, check it out!

Husbandly Duties . . .

Thank you, honey for giving me my shots and always taking care of me. You do such a great job of jabbing me with that needle. I wouldn't want anyone else to jab me in the butt every couple of weeks. Gee, that sounds bad, doesn't it?

For hanging my crap on the walls (the right way, versus how I would do it . . . trial and error and 4,000 holes later).

For listening to me bitch about everything. Most recently, bitching about my itching. Damn Poison Oak.

For not being super-mad that I had the backyard partially landscaped while you were gone. Especially for that one! I thought I was a goner!

And even though it drives me crazy, more often than not; and although I'd rather have you here with us rather than there; thank you for your faithful service to our country. Your commitment to the Air Force is something that is so very honorable. And I'm sorry that I complain about it more than I share my pride with you. (You know, like when I cry at the Shamu show when they ask all of (you) service members to stand and be recognized? That's my pride in you, babe.)

Thank you also for working so hard to achieve your Masters and FNP. I know how important it is to you. I appreciate how much you have sacrificed this last year to get this far. So yes, you are right, telling them to screw off about having to be down there on the 30th probably isn't the best option. We'll figure it out :)

No matter what the shit we've gone through in the last 5.5 years? I have no doubt that I hit the jackpot with you. I am so very, very blessed by you.

I love you. I miss you. Drive safe. Then we'll leave again in the morning . . . on the road again . . . I just can't wait to get on the road again!

Yard Sale . . .

haven't I said that I'd never do another yard sale again? Yeah. I think I have. But still, because I try to be a good Mama, I did another yard sale. For Dylan. For his DC trip fund raising.

Like all yard sales I've done before, I thought I'd get really organized a long time ago. But instead, we pulled it all together in the last 24 hours. Of course.

This year, just to mix it up, I may (or may not?) of had a few Vodka cocktails last night. While prepping and pricing.

This photo was taken by me. Of me. While wearing a Darth Vader mask. Holding a light saber. With a talking Yoda on my shoulder (parrot-style). While balancing on a hippy-hoppidy ball. On our insanely slanted front yard. At 11:00 pm.

Take that, boring yard-sale prep!

Special thanks to Robyn, who disuaded me from driving to Bellachino's to borrow (temporarily steal) some orange traffic cones, which I was sure would help us manage the crowds at our busy little yard sale. That probably wasn't my best idea to date. It's always good to have a responsible friend to keep you on the straight-and-narrow whilst you have imbibed too many grapefruit infused vodka drinks.

(As an aside, albeit a very important one, Dylan made over $600 today. 1/2 way to the $1,200 he needs to contribute towards his trip. It was fabulous!)

As for my iPhone photos, I can't really leave out Robyn . . . crazy eyes and all . . . 

And my friend, who will seemingly never leave, Poison Oak. Rotten bastard. He's now spread to the entire left side of my body after ravishing the right side last week. I feel pretty, oh so pretty . . . 

Serious Yardwork . . .

the kind that you pay someone to do! Involving rocks (lots of rock), stone (yes, there's a difference), shoveling, moving and changing sprinklers . . . you name, it, they did it! Sadly, we ran out of time and product, so we still have a ways to go. But it's a start!

The rock wall along the back is finished. The sprinklers are done. My new 15 foot tree is in. The play area is compacted and fairly level. The path next to the play area is done, complete with rock edging. The path to the back is about 1/2 way done . . . maybe a little more.

Anyway . . . it's progress. Every night I've sat outside and just looked at how far they've come. We've got a long ways to go, but I am so excited about it!

Must Read More . . .

I am a reader. Ask anyone who (really) knows me and they will assume that I read 1-3 books per week. That would typically be the case. BUT, the dang (love it!) Internet sometimes gets in my way. 

I read. Blogs. And articles. And message boards. And all sorts of interesting stuff! 

But not nearly as many books as I have in the past. 

So, these are the books languishing on my Nook. Book Club picks. Sleezy beach reads. A little non-fiction. Young adult fiction. And lots in-between.

I'm sure there's more where those came from. But I need to sleep more than I need to read, at least at the moment. (Depending on the book, that is.) I do, however, need to catch up on some books before I download anymore. That much is clear!

Summer To-Do Update . . .

Remember this?

Places to Go . . . 

Waterpark (Monday!), Manzanita Lake, Santa Cruz, Zoo (Tuesday?), Creek, Turtle Bay

Fun Things to Do . . . 

VBX, Camping, TP, Tubing, Ride Bikes to Farmers’ Market, Kayak, Hike, City Plaza Fountains, RLG Summer Party, Bowling

Things to Just Get Done . . . 

Interview GG (Dylan is going over there today to start this), Finish Jimmy’s DVD, Wedding DVD, Lauren’s Wedding Invites, Halle’s Play Area, Backyard Paths Done, Earn $250 for D.C. (Dylan) (not yet, but he has a yard sale coming up on Saturday that should push him over the edge), Office Wall (Amy) (there is one more picture that John needs to hang up for me. So close!), Garage Carpet Removed, Fire Pit set-up

Things to Do for Others . . . 

Feed Someone Who is Hungry, Donate Things We Don’t Need, Volunteer at VBX, Support Harrington Family, Support Ratekin-Dick Family

Things to Do at Home . . . 

Boy-Girl Party, Outdoor Movie, Make Playdough, Make Silhouettes, Play Scrabble Online with Papa, Host a Game Night, Blink Tournament, Minute to Win It, Make Rainbow Cupcakes, Run Through the Sprinklers, Backyard Campout, Water Balloon Fight, Friendship Bracelets, Have a Picnic, Connect Four Tournament, Learn a New Family Game

Other Things to Do . . . 

Renew Gym Membership (I joined a non-gym, Elevate and am actually going to start going. Shocker.), Blog 40 Days During the Summer

Things to Get Better At . . . 

Eating New Things, Yoga (Amy), Learn to Swim (Halle), Guitar (Dylan), Saving Money (Whoops. This was not the summer to get better at things. Except for Halle-boo working on her swimming!)

Major Accomplishments . . . 

Hike Lassen (delayed to the Fall, hopefully!), Lose 10 Pounds (Amy) (does 4 pounds even count? And what can I lose in the next 13 days? Cause I’ll add that in!)

Things to Avoid . . .

McDonald’s, Target (yep, gave that one up early on!)

I learned some surprising things from this. First, we are not good at doing things at home. How lame is that? We've watched plenty of movies, done plenty of art, played outside, taken walks, played games, etc., but when I set out a specific thing to do? We're not very good at doing it! We're in a damn rut! Second, we are good at going places. Lastly, we did a lot of things that weren't on the list. Maybe we need to simplify the list next year into something like this:

1. Have fun.

2. Do some stuff that isn't fun.

3. Do some stuff for others.

4. Be spontaneous.

5. Relax . . . it's summer.

It's definitely a work in progress!

Better . . .

more sanity prevails with me today than last week! (Imagine how crazy I would have been last week without medication . . . yikes!) Anyway, after my insane work-week, poison oak, car issues x 2, the late-in-the-game inability to tow our tent trailer on vacation, the last-minute scramble to borrow a tent and air mattresses AND figure out how to get it all into the car, sobbing uncontrollably, hormonal zinger, way-late start to our trip; topped off with some serious tension between my husband and I? We had a very enjoyable weekend. (Damn good thing, too!)

New Brighton State Beach campground is pretty darn fabulous! I did, momentarily forget that I was packing for the California Coast, not Hawaii and flip-flopped my packing thereby ending up with two swimsuits and only one sweatshirt. Whoops! (That sweatshirt got a lot of wearing!) We did some campsite switching with friends and ended up downsizing from four sites to two . . . we share well, apparently! We also marked the perfect premium campsites that we might try for next time. We shall see on January 2nd at 8:01 am (for next July), who else might have marked those same spots!

Highlights of the trip?

Getting there. Period. Enough said.

Group dinners with good friends. Taco night is even better when you're sitting around a campfire in the cool coastal air! Pie iron pizzas and sandwiches were pretty yummy too. (Although it's a lot of work and possibly takes too much time for that many people. Maybe.) We also headed to Pizza My Heart one night and ate $120 worth of delicious pizza.  My personal fave was The Fort Point. Beyond delicious!

Hitting the Boardwalk on Friday afternoon and running around like crazy people trying to get on every ride possible. Dylan even went on the Double Shot . . . fortunately we had other thrill seekers with us who would ride with him, because this mama thinks that is crazy! I loved riding the Giant Dipper (twice!) and the log ride, remembering exactly how they felt when I was little. It was fun to take John on the Giant Dipper with at least one of our children . . . it felt like a full circle. Halle found some little rides that she loved as well.

Watching the kids play together. We had a much smaller group camping this year, simply because of the advance reservation issue, but everyone got along. Halle loved tagging along with the older girls and they were so kind and patient with her. I love to see it when our "village" really works! Love our village!

My very first (!!) beach bonfire. Seriously. I've never, ever had a beach fire before. Sadly, Halle lost her mind after a very-short while, so I couldn't enjoy it for long, but for those few minutes . . . it was very, very good!

Laughing and playing Battle of the Sexes (card trivia game) on the beach with our friends. Hilariously trying to beat the men by knowing stupid things like lug nuts and crescent wrenches and winches (versus coma-a-longs), while they tried to define pashmina, chignon and chartreuse. So funny. 

The Mamas snuck away for an early morning (well, 8:00 am) beach walk. Followed by a bakery run. (And when I say run, I mean that we got in the car. We didn't actually run there. Nope.) I love my ladies. Love that we can walk on the beach, in Bidwell Park, in Canyon Oaks, at a lake, gather over books for Book Club . . . and just be.

(Rockin' the retro wetsuits . . . love it!)

Lots of moments tucked away into my book of things that matter most. Times that are fleeting, yet so very precious. Even if it takes an act of Congress to get to them sometimes!

I would definitely like to add at least one more night to this gig. I didn't feel like we ever really had an excess of down time. (Not that an extra day would guarantee that . . . being that we had children there!)

And now, I am a little more ready to face this week. Deep breath in . . . deep breath out . . .