02-29-12

February 29th isn't a date I type very often.

In the Gregorian calendar, the current standard calendar in most of the world, most years that are evenly divisible by 4 are leap years. Adding an extra day to the calendar every four years compensates for the fact that a period of 365 days is shorter than a solar year by almost 6 hours.

Happy Leap Year!

02-28-12

The month of February has been an experiment to see if a daily vitamin helps us to feel better. Jury is still out, but I bought a March supply. Xander treats them more like candy than medicine.

He knows plenty about medicine, taking four allergy & asthma meds a day. Our allergist called today to offer us a cheaper alternative, after noticing what we pay for the drugs. Thumbs up to that!

02-27-11

Had to gas up tonight, since tomorrow is a travel day if it’s not too icy.

$36 to fill my little tank. I remember when it was much closer to $20.

Sure hear a lot about gas in the headlines. National average is $3.70/gallon. Gas Prices up 18 Cents in Past 2 Weeks. Republicans pushing for cheaper gas.

And life goes on…

02-26-12

Home again, Finnegan.

Got caught up with the family, unpacked, did Sunday chores, bundled up in the cold (snow falling!), started working on a digital album, attended evening church, and tried to logic with the DQ workers that $3.59 + $3.69 does not add to $15.

“You are all separate beads strung together on that one thread, God.” -Sri Sathya Sai Baba

02-25-12

So long, New Awlins!

Today we got out of the French Quarter again, using the Canal St streetcar to explore City Park. We went for the statue garden, and it was worth the trip, but is a lovely immense park that also offers more mansions, stand up paddle boarders in the bayous, and great old oak trees with Spanish Moss. The moss and palm trees differentiate it from our parks.

At the airport, with a lot of travelling hours ahead...

02-24-12

Our last full day in New Orleans...

Today we had breakfast at Cafe du Monde, did a fun but cold bike tour, bought a streetcar all day pass, walked around the Garden District mansions, found more street bands, and tasted Muffalettas and Bananas Foster.

Our bike tour guide thought this was a funny sign, calling a tomato Creole. Ironically, we were talking to the gal in this photo (from Las Vegas) about the noticeable absence of produce in this town...

02-23-12

My system has started saying WHO DAT over all the red beans and rice and lack of fruits and veggies I've been eating, so I had a house salad and grilled asparagus tonight as we dined on the patio with a blues band. No nutria/swamp rat/bayou rabbit on any menus, though. :)

Today was tour day - swamp tour, plantation tour, and heading out the the ghost/voo doo tour. Learned a lot more about the history of NOLA, creole culture, cajun swamp life, and Katrina. Oh, and we learned we don't care for Mint Julips!

02-22-12

Bruce thinks the theme of the day might be architecture, but I think it's walking.

We walked to Starbucks, now that we know they are hiding in hotel lobbies. We walked to the French Market, taking photos all the way. We made the long trek to Degas House, stopping at cemeteries on the way back. We walked by lots of folks with ash on their forehead, since this a heavily Catholic area. And we did our first walking tour, visiting 5 bars and learning about creole society and saints and sinners.

Happy Ash Wednesday from St Louis Cathedral, the oldest cathedral in the US.

02-21-12

I've been seeing lots of:

Costumes. We fit right in in ours.

Police. Huge police presence; our cabbie said no worries about safety during Mardi Gras.

Parades. Seven in all since arriving.

Creole food. Thumbs up to po boys, red beans and rice, jambalaya, and gumbo.

Jesus freaks. With megaphones and signs telling us to repent of this filth. Ouch!

Nudity. The body paint is amazing, the drunk flashing not so much...

Happy Fat Tuesday!

02-20-12

Wow, what a long day! Started in Washington at 3:45am, ended eating a Po Boy in a tavern at 10:30pm in New Orleans!

Wow, what a beautiful city! Love the architecture and hyped up atmosphere.

Wow, it is so easy to get beads at parades! We have more than we can probably carry home in one evening! And the only nudity I've seen is on the float designs!

02-19-12

And we’re off! It was fun that the weather report for the southern US on CNN was relevant today, but the forecast is still in a state of flux…

As we head to Portland and get closer to boarding the plane, here’s my list of experiences to hope to have in New Orleans:
See the end of the Mississippi River.
Soak up a street band.
See a Mardi Gras parade.
Learn a bit about voodoo, but not too much.
Wander through a cemetery.
Learn about Katrina/see some areas impacted.
Tour the inside of (at least) one historic home… and lots of walking, around the outside of lots of cool buildings and houses.
Buy local spices at the French Market
Taste nutria… Xander’s request.
Check out the following local culinary delights, including muffuletta, chicken gumbo & a creole dish. No olive spread or debris gravy, thanks. And sadly, dodging seafood all week.
For desserts, try beignet, Banana Foster, and a Tabasco Praline. For drinks, check out the Rhubarb Bloody Mary.
Relax & enjoy time with Bruce.

Fixin’ to have a great time…

02-18-12

A quiet day at home with the family all together under the same roof.

Some packing, some resting, some chores, some hour long hair curling, and even some yelling.

Reminders of why we go and what we have to come back home to.

02-17-12

TGIF! And not just any Friday, Friday before vacation! I am officially on vacation! And even sort of feeling better!

Tonight Anastasia and I had some mother daughter time laughing our way through a local production of Cinderella. Great way to usher in the weekend…

02-16-12

I sat upright and acted human all day today, and even got in 30 minutes of activity, but now I’m worn out. Contemplated taking a photo of Anastasia with the phone attached to her ear. Took a photo of Xander doing his peak flow breathing, but he asked me not to post that lovely photo. Bruce is glued to the sofa recuperating from his crud in his own way. Leaving a photo of me watching a video for my Move More Eat Well on-line class. Both are harder when I’m sick, but fighting through it…

02-15-12

When I was talking to Donna at work about her Valentines plans, she talked about Ethan filling out his Valentines for his classmates. It’s funny how you pass through stages of life, then tend to forget about them.

I remember exchanging Valentines with my classmates many moons ago, and helping the kids pick out cool ones not so many years ago, but I didn’t even notice them in the stores this year. An lo and behold, today the mailman brought a package of Valentines filled out by the nieces and nephews!

What a fun surprise.

02-14-12

Roses are red

Violets are blue.

If we are chased by zombies,

I wouldn't trip you.

A poem and a home cooked meal for Valentines’ Day. What more could a girl want?!? Well, maybe her health...

Ugh, woke up sick. So much for the vitamins being a miracle cure to keep the Bruce’s, Xander’s, and Anastasia’s germs at bay!

Count down to vacation: 7 days

At least Anastasia bounced back fast, so maybe there is still hope for me…

02-12-12

The best laid plans of mice and men…. Our day went form being gone ALL DAY to barely leaving the house all day, thanks to our princess who is never sick enough to need to medicate with NyQuil.

A lazy day at home. Anastasia slept a good chunk of the day. Xander played video games in his “new” room. Bruce spent another day cooped up, wishing he felt better. I got some scrapbooking done, what a nice treat.

Our only family outing today was driving all over town getting what everyone wanted for dessert. In case anyone is wondering, the bacon milkshake at Jack in the Box is vile! I didn't have to order it to know that, but some of us did...

02-11-12

Aside from breathing, choosing is likely the activity most common to humans. Every day our life can be viewed as a series of choices, and the sum of those choices determine our path.

Today I chose to not be ticked off about losing a lot of sleep last night (thanks noisy neighbors, or maybe my coffee wasn’t really decaf!), to still run the lake even in the rain and with not enough time to do my full loop, and to have a mocha at church tonight even though I wasn’t hungry. Good and bad choices abound!

Live intentionally!

02-10-12

Made it to another Friday!

Kind of an odd day…dealing with a new laptop at work, “biggest loser” weigh in disappointments, planning for a future trip derailed (the hostel is full, drat!), and the boys are trying to burn hand sanitizer. But, it’s Friday!

And, Bruce and I headed to the Electric Bean tonight to enjoy a coffee and a band.

02-09-12

Had a few blog topic choices for this mundane Thursday. My new haircut, Anastasia’s Presidents Award, or assembling the new futon bunk bed…

Here’s the start of the process. It got assembled tonight, but the room isn't quite transformed yet...

02-08-12

Here’s the crew I waved off to youth group tonight. My taxi service was short lived, since Bruce is jumping back into youth ministries. Guess it is in his blood!

Anastasia went to Burgerville to get a milkshake for science extra credit. Michael and Xander got dropped off at Arby’s and walked home from there. I waved from the treadmill then headed off to small group.

02-07-12

Ready to raise some money for Relay?!?

Tonight was the kick off meeting for Relay for Life. Weyerhaeuser is already sporting $5400, go team! My goal is to raise $1000 myself… one of these years!

The Kelso Flyers tumbling group came and performed for us, raising the energy level. The kids in the air dodging the inflatable flamingos hanging from low huge lights was entertaining in itself…

02-06-12

This was my view form the parking lot at work today.

A downside of such clear nice days is lots of frost in the mornings.
An advantage is the pretty colors in the sunrise sky.

I was really wondering about all the parked company trucks. Parked trucks aren’t good for the P&L! Turns out that they were launching the Fit to Drive wellness program with the drivers today.

“Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” ~World Health Organization, 1948

12-05-12

“Don’t tell the boys, there’s cranberries in the chocolate chip cookies!”

Sunday night is dessert night in our house. For years that has meant trips to DQ, Coldstone, Sweet Spot, or even the donut shop. But this year we are alternating weeks, only going out every other week. The intent is to help the budget and the waistline.

But on the off weeks we still have something at home. For me it is one last hurrah to help me buckle down and eat well for another Monday through Friday. Tonight I made a layered jar recipe that I got from my vegan chef friend and co-worker. Easy and yummy!

02-04-12

“I could do this all day. It’s just like walking.” – Michele
“How do you walk??” – Bruce
“It’s like terrible flip-flops!” – Xander

Today we tried snowshoeing for the first time. We rented from the local pro shop and drove toward Mt St Helens in search of the supposed snow. We did find snow,a nd very few people. We enjoyed a loop trail up past Ape Caves, and did a small loop at Trail of Two Forests.

Gorgeous sunny day, fun family time, and another new exercise option that I really enjoy.

02-03-12

What is it?

Anastasia got a sweet tooth and decided to make crepes. Alexander and Anthony arranged the crepes into Crepe Man. Or maybe Michelin Man!

“Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence on society.” - Mark Twain

Happy Friday!

02-02-12

Anastasia went from dog tired to doing jumping jacks with my Biggest Loser DVD. Gave me a chance to play with camera settings.

I had planned to do the same workout tonight, but I headed downstairs for upper body weight training instead.

Xander is exercising a different muscle, studying to retake a math test tomorrow. Who ever heard of a grade for the semester being based on one 5 question test?!?

02-01-12

My day started by being chosen for a random vehicle search as I arrived at work. Thank you, homeland security.

During breaks I read Seattle Business magazine. On one page an article discussed how Washington state is losing its level of educational attainment, so we can’t compete for jobs or maintain our quality of life. On the very next page another article discussed how the Seattle area has a competitive global economy due to being a center of research and innovation. The dichotomy is a testimony to the odd times we live in, with lots of frustration and opportunity.

My day ended back in the car, waiting for the kids to get out of youth group, now that I am the official Wednesday night taxi driver. Gave me a few minutes to play with camera settings. GPS on to not miss turns on the dark windy road, KLOVE on the radio, other cars wondering about the camera flashes...