06-30-10

Wow, the last day of June! Coming up fast on a long weekend.

At the Highlands Neighborhood Association meeting this week, we went around the room to introduce ourselves and tell our favorite place.

I hate trying to come up with favorite songs, movies, memories, places... San Diego? the Badlands? Seattle with Bruce? I dunno.

My answer? Walking at the lake in the sunshine. That's a favorite everyday destination for sure!

06-29-10

Tonight was haircut night. I, uh, went a little drastic.

I like it so far, but the family doesn't. It will be interesting to see if my co-workers scream when they see it, like ALL the Fischer's did.

Happy summer!

06-28-10

Cell phone power activate! In the form of... oh, sorry, too many old TV shows being watched in my household thanks to streaming Netflix.

"No contemporary cultural artifact embodies the genius and the disruptive excess of capitalism as clearly as the cell phone." -MIT conference in 2005

At work we had a safety conference call today, and one of the topics was the new policy banning all cell phone use while driving. Our VP said that we used to get our work done without cell phones and we can do it again. Yeah, but that was back when none of our competitors or peers had cell phones either! It's fun sitting back & watching as everyone tries to adjust.

06-27-10

Got another day trip in today! Woo-hoo!

After the VBS finale and BBQ at church, we headed to DuPont/Nisqually.

First stop was a shipwreck geocache Bruce wanted to visit. The kids were dragging and whining until they saw our destination in the distance, then it turned into a fun adventure. Evidently a concrete and iron ship built during WW2 sank on a sand bar in DuPont. We started on a neighborhood trail behind the air force base, but then had to blaze our own path down very steep terrain and across RR tracks. We shared the sand bar with kayakers - I'm thinking by boat is much smarter than by land. Didn't find the cache, but had fun exploring the inside of the ship.

We grabbed a bite at Taco Time (where else in Olympia?!?) and did a quick one mile stroll around Nisqually Wildlife Refuge. We only saw four other people there, and one said "do you attend Longview Community? You're Marriage Man, aren't you?!?" Pretty funny.

Glad to be heading against traffic, and glad to be out in the sunshine enjoying our great state.

06-26-10

Would you rather...

Bake rhubarb crisp or make a trip to the dollar store?

Lay awake half the night itching or scrub grime off a bathroom?

Stand in line for a flat of fresh strawberries or drive an hour away to save $200?

Eat at an Indian restaurant you know you love or check out a new place called Burrito House?

... I did all of the above today.

We all spent some time at the duplex. There was work, but also some play, as you can see with the new shop vac blowing.

06-25-10

Took a vacation today. Not for any big plans, just to use them up now that I can't bank any of my four weeks of vacation. An extra day to be a weekend warrior.

After getting the kids off to VBS, we did some local shopping for items for the duplex. Found a store with aisles and aisles and aisles of doors (cheaper than Home Depot!), found a $15 sink at the Habitat ReStore, and decided on a new bathroom vanity and kitchen faucet at Home Depot.

Then we worked on site for awhile - Bruce scrubbing nicotine off the ceilings, me assessing window blinds (toss or clean) and reshaping the front yard shrubs/trees.

Also enjoyed some reading time, some time in the garden, walking the lake, and whipped up cheesecake & butterscotch pudding parfaits. Happy day!

06-24-10

Dog days of summer.

With the weather being nice, we've all been spending more time out on the front porch. Always glued to the phones, of course.

I have tomorrow off work, so the evening stretched out before me. Dinner, Starbucks, lake walk, chat with mom about wedding reception dates for my sister, watching Dear John with Anastasia. Finished up a series of public speaking at work, so all the more reason to celebrate.

Happy (almost) weekend!

06-23-10

Tonight I made my lemon cookie recipe with strawberry cake mix instead of lemon. Yum! Xander enjoyed the batter. Everyone is enjoying the cookies. The hard part is having some left over to take to work tomorrow!

This evening I also visited the produce stand, watched Speed on our new wii Netflix expanded account, took a walk, and did speed gardening.

Missing my computer; we are back to where we started with the virus. So, back to the tech tomorrow...

06-22-10

Ah, today we have our first real sunny, humid day of summer! Went out and replanted the garden before the rain sets in.

Not much is growing in this weird weather, but we did harvest some tonight - lettuce, strawberries and pea pods. The rhubarb is ready, but I'm waiting for time to make (and eat!) stawberry-rhubarb crisp.

Happy day!

06-21-10

Happy first day of summer!

As we wait for the sun to find us, Anastasia crawls up in front of the TV. It wasn't lounging around ALL day though. Bruce got bids from contractors, Xander got his first whiff of the stinky duplex and attempted to decorate the church nursery for VBS, and Anastasia had Amy over and practiced her skit for VBS.

Jealous of their relaxed pace, but enjoying summer even from my cubicle.

06-20-10

Happy Fathers Day!

Bruce got to plan our day today, so I knew we were in for an adventure. The weather killed our hiking in the Gorge plans, so he found some fun things in Portland instead - a nickle arcade, geocaching, VooDoo donuts.

And the main event was the lunch spot he found. It's called Slappy Cakes and is well worth the hour wait for a table. I hate pancakes and have had them twice this month! I had peanut butter batter with hazelnuts and butterscotch chips mixed in. Anastasia had strawberries and cchocolate chips. The guys had buttermilk batter - Bruce with bacon and chocolate chips, Xander with sausage and green onions. It was fun cooking the flapjacks right on our table.

Love adventure seeking Dad.

6-19-10

I realize this photo isn't in focus, but I like it.

Tonight was Anastasia's dance recital at Academy of Performing Arts. She was in four dances plus this finale- jazz, hip hop, tap, and ballet.

She did a great job, I'm very proud of her and am glad she can dance so much better than her mom.

“Dancing is the poetry of the foot.” -John Dryden

06-18-10

Sometimes things going different from plan is a good thing. But often it's not.

A sleepless night, a cancelled landlord class, and family having different plans than me for this evening make for a grumpy Mom.

I think I'll be heading to bed soon, see if tomorrow can be better.

06-17-10

We are continually amazed at how fast things can move sometimes.

Last night at 4:30pm we signed on a loan. The credit union employee walked the documents across the parking lot to the title company before 5pm closing. The deed was recorded this morning. A wire transfer was sent to the bank selling the foreclosure by 11am. And today after work I went by to pick up the keys!

We did another walk through. There are a lot of structural things that will suck up our budget, so deciding what to fix up inside is a challenge.

Safe and clean...

06-16-10

Happy birthday, dear Pauline, happy birthday to you!

Another whirlwind day. To PeEll for a meeting, home for a long lunch, created a 40th birthday card for Pauline. Tried to deliver a Weyerhaeuser Foundation check (take 2), a few hours at the office. To the credit union to close on another loan, to the real estate office to do final paperwork on another duplex. Produce stand with my new eco-friendly bags, dinner with a tableful of teens. Dump them all off at youth group, to Starbucks to get Pauline a gift card. Meet up with Pauline and friends for dessert. Pick up kids at youth group, deliver them around town.

It's only Wednesday?!? Feels like at least Friday!

06-15-10

Only spent about 45 minutes in the office today.

Travelled to Rainier/Vail for a monthly meeting, then to Olympia for a funeral.

Western Timberlands (Washington and Oregon) has only had one injury this year in our workforce. That is fantastic results for the logging industry; more people get hurt in our Corporate offices. But, our goal is zero.

To that end, today I heard about a new company policy. No more cell phone use on company time or on company business while driving. Period. Big change. But then, I remember when the new seat belt rule (unbuckled, unemployed) was the controversy and now that is part of our culture.

06-14-10

Most of our evening was spent on an inspection for another potential rental purchase.

Three hours of being told that in addition to all the known issues (birds nesting in the walls, grody walls, deteriorating porch) that there is a long laundry list of other issues (rats gnawing in the closet, foundation issues, electrical panels are recalled, no water pressure). I really need to stop looking at these bottom of the barrel great deals!

We are yet again in a holding pattern to see if the bank will give us any price concessions. This landlording takes a lot of patience!

"That is phenomenal filth on the walls!" - Jay, our inspector

06-13-10

Kids are away, adults will play.

We experienced a very different worship setting this morning at the Worship Cafe. Didn't have to bicker over where to grab lunch; ate at home. Spent the afternoon in the yard keeping the unwanted foliage at bay. Dinner and a drink in quiet companionship.

And two walks in the almost sunshine. We walked the neighborhoods looking at different porch handrail options for the rental, and wondered a the sparkling green beauty of the lake.

Life is good.

06-12-10

Another jam packed Saturday.

Plans revolved around my niece's birthday party. She turned 4 today! It was a fun party; a nice way to spend our first nice weather day of the summer. Here's the birthday girl competing in a gunny sack race.

Happy birthday Molly!

06-11-10

Happy happy Friday!

Great day at work, feeling much better, looking forward to the promise of warm weather this weekend.

Speaking of looking forward to things, Bruce has been waiting for his Starbucks gold card to arrive. Of course we had to go out and celebrate and cash in our free drink coupon. Family coffee night, yum.

06-10-10

While I was attending a 90 minute training session on how to use my new way-too-complicated VOIP phone at work, Bruce and five middle schoolers were celebrating the end of another school year at Pizza Hut.

Today the kids were only allowed to bring a pen, a yearbook, and a camera to school. I'm sure it was a very productive day.

And that leaves Bruce with "now what?!?". Back to hiding to get time to himself.

06-09-10

I'm puttering on my to-do list tonight, so I must be feeling better.

Sleeping in this morning and taking it it easy was a great treat. Still laying around a lot. But starting to have more energy.

I like wrapping gifts. Putting the paper and extras away when I am done, not so much. Molly's birthday gift wrapped before her party Saturday, check.

06-08-10

Michele is out for the count! She got some bug and after fighting it for a while I think has given in and is spending the evening relaxing and watching the end of Kung Fu Panda.

She had enough energy to sign papers on another duplex today though. So I think she'll make it.

06-06-10

So much for being healthy and invincible. I woke up SICK today! I blame my family; they've been hogging the tissue boxes lately.

I took off work an hour early and headed to bed for a few hours. I got to hear the kids hanging out on the trampoline and playing their loud music in their bedroom.

Here's Xander with his current girlfriend Grace.

"Is the guitar on this shirt supposed to be broken?" - Xander in the changing room last weekend

06-05-10

Yesterday was a day for play, today was a day for chores.

Put stuff away, iron, manicure, trip to the dollar store, plan meals, get organized, and scrub the bathroom. After all the deep cleaning at the duplex, I thought our poor house could use some similar treatment.

Not as fun as sitting around eating bon-bons, but I seem to thrive on productivity.

We did have some family fun, though. Another movie in our Chicago series - Blues Brothers.

"We're on a mission from God. " - Elwood

06-04-10

Progress to date on our 12 day trips for 2010:

- Beverly Cleary Statue Park in Portland - Sat Feb 20th

- Audubon House in Beaverton - Sat June 5th

Almost halfway through the year; we have ground to make up. Today we ran into very soggy and muddy ground though, which is why we plan to do most of our exploring in the summer.

The Audubon House is fun. They have a few resident birds, Julio the girl great horned owl and Ruby the turkey vulture who likes people too much to be free. And we did a short hike on the Jay Trail.

Maybe our next day trip will be another hike on June 25th... and, we are finding things to add to the list for next year.

06-04-10

TGIF. This was a short week, but it was a trying week.

Tonight the kids were out and about, so Bruce and I:

- Had buffalo steak dinner.

- Went house shopping, touring two distressed properties with the realtor.

- Chased Xander down to give him more cash en route to Starbucks.

- Weeded the newest garden patch while the sun was shining. The morning glory has a stronghold and the slugs are after the rhubarb, but I will be victorious.

- Got my computer back and up and running. Still not 100%, but at least I have Internet again.

06-03-10

It's interesting to divide up beef for three families. First, it comes prefrozen so it is super super cold. Second, there is a TON of it. Third, it hurts my back to lift 40+ pounds into the deep freeze. Fourth, I'm trying to work really fast to get the meat back in the freezer ASAP.

Bruce & Larry went to the butcher to pick up our "cow" today. Then tongiht I took the scale out to the garage and weighed myself with and without beef in my arms.

This photo shows oodles of hamburger, but there are also some really pretty steaks and roasts.

Beef... it's what's for dinner... all summer!

06-02-10

Tonight was our final soccer game. I think there is a resounding "YAY!".

Xander didn't want to go. This was our game to bring treats and he thought we should drop off the snacks and run. I guess after missing a game and a practice he has lost the desire. But, he hustled for the ball better tonight than he has in most games.

I am very thankful that we did not see any rain, but the sky was dark and threatening, the field was very soggy, and it felt like January instead of June. I'm a fair weather outdoor girl, and this is not fair weather.

Even the referees seem to think the season should be over; they didn't bother to show up tonight! So Bruce was one of the line judges.

06-01-10

Nothing halts evening productivity like spending 5:30 to 9pm at school, then making a celebratory DQ trip. Nothing hurts the rear end like sitting in the bleachers for that long. either!

Xander had his last ever band concert (he's switching to choir next year), there was a long break (but too short to leave), then Anastasia had her band and jazz band concert. Longest evening ever, but fun to see the kids perform and interact with their peers.

Happy June!