No dog bites or bee stings...

...but here are some of my favorite things:
* A-man's smiles...all 12,341 versions of them.
* Smooth, dark chocolate
* The way leaves look from the underside when sunlight is above them
* A well crafted phrase
* People that stop to help the elderly
* Pink Gerber daisies.
* Parasitic plants growing from tree roots
* A dense forest, grand mountain ridge, and soft sand beach
* The way S tries so hard
* Jillo and J-bobs' enthusiasm
* Cgrace's grace
* Homie A's hugs and her Mama's smiles upon relaxing or hearing a dirty joke
* Mammy's and Poppy's everything
* B's generosity
* A tomato plant setting fruit
* The luster of a fine pearl
* A good cupcake
* Hammocks
* Crazy puppies and soft cats
Ok, enough for now. :-)

Hilarity in the kitchen.

Just watching S make some low sugar peanut butter cookies with her X-mas present mixer. She is asking B to use his tools to fix her problem, and then tells him she needs something smaller than what he has to offer. tee hee hee. This is after I ran around the house with the dough hook sticking out of my sleeve threatening to make people walk the plank.

Mammy and I wore ourselves out today looking for all those little tidbits for post X-mas fun. All went well, except I am super annoyed that I can't seem to make the MP3 player function work on my phone. I thought I would be clever, but I seem to be at a loss (snort, snort).

I HAVE to retrieve my digi camera from S's car. I need to show you all the tacky/old lady purse I got. It is silver and reminds one of stale bars, bad wigs, and Misty 120's.

Glad to see Jillo and J-bob had a great X-mas. I am super excited about seeing Jillo in OR, and need to call Mr. and Mrs. Portland to see if they will be around.

Like a great weight.

I know for many the holidays are a stressful time. I'm one of the many. As of last night, I felt (despite a bout of insomnia) as though a great weight had been lifted. We got back from X-mas dinner around eleven, and I felt a surge of energy. I was bouncing around, and felt compelled to go shopping. I'm pretty sure it wasn't a fit of consumerism. It just finally occurred to me what I wanted (in the small and large sense) and I wanted to go get it. I made a list of THINGS I wanted and a list of things I need to do over the next month. I felt much better after that. I always feel better when I have direction.

X-mas was good. Watching A-man is such a joy, even when he is in full, two year old whine mode. It was a bummer that the New Yorkers couldn't be with us, but I understand. As always I have an excessively generous family. I only hope I can reciprocate some day. Princess G-ma's energy is astounding. She cleans, cooks, makes sure we're all taken care of, and is still smiling at the end of it all.

I took mostly film pictures, so I'll try to borrow some.

I hope everyone has had a great holiday, and that health, happiness, and peace infuse us all.

Like worms under the skin.

1. Loved talking with Cj on Friday. :-) Glad to see the new wheels are hot and spicy red. I hope you and Ct get to see each other in NY!

2. Spent Friday cleaning and doing a quick massage. Said bye to the gang at work, as I don't expect to see them until after the new year. Friday evening I met up with Ms. T to help her prep for her b-day soiree.

3.Then the fun began. There were only about seven or eight of us around to cheer on the Tamster. Drinkies were had, jokes were told, leers were passed. P.C. made me laugh, and drank too much. We went to one of the very few all night places and had some greasy food. Smooches were had. My head didn't hit the pillow until about four thirty.

4. So, now I wonder. Will it go any where? I have learned one very important thing about myself. I am not so concerned about which way things will go in my life, as long as I know which one it will be. If it is good or bad, fine, but being in pergatory-esque limbo is NOT OK with my brain.

5. It HAS been a long time.

6. Made a B-day cake for B tonight. I didn't quite follow instructions and managed to make what was refered to as a "rubber tree" cake. hehe It tastes pretty good, but had a certain bounce to it.

Why I need to win the lottery.

Odd day. Had one of those mornings...didn't get anything done because I kept going over my to-do list in my head without being able to prioritize. That always results in in-action.

I finally got moving and went and did a little holiday/birthday shopping. I find it very hard to buy for some people. After downing a coffee, I went to work. It was good to see everyone, and, as usual, there were some new faces. I spent a good chunk of the day with Ms. Mass because she is headed back east. It is strange to talk to someone so young and forthright. I find myself constantly telling her to be a good girl, and trying to pass on my knowledge to her.

We ended up trying to squeeze in a late workout (my first in weeks). Part way through Mr. Urbane called and rescheduled tomorrow night's dinner to tonight. I hadn't realized how out of shape I had gotten so quickly.

Dinner was pleasant Italian with amusing conversation. We ended up discussing the need to cull his wardrobe. I was downright honest about how I feel. He needs to shift his clothes to comfortable and looks good, from comfortable and looks like a sack. Like so many people, he's got a good physic and should highlight it, but doesn't. I can't help it...sometimes I think it would be fun to have a real, live Ken doll.

Had a phone call from P.C. as dinner was ending. I told him I'd call back in half an hour. I called back in fifteen minutes, then at thirty, then at an hour and fifteen. I felt like a dork. He called back 20 minutes after my last phone call, and we talked for almost an hour. I went straight to the bad place when he didn't call. The "he might not like me", or "I pissed him off" place. A bad and scary place with crevasses waiting to swallow up dumb girls and budding relationships. I have accused many people of being relationship retards, but I'm just as bad. That being said, why do men think it is OK to keep ladies waiting without explanation? Don't they know that eventually they will end up with bread in their ear?

Finally, S was put on bedrest today until our little lady comes. She has asked to hire me to help take care of everything, as she doesn't want Mammy wearing herself completely out. Of course, I would do it for free if need be. I always want to drop everything to help my loved ones when they need it. That is why I need to win the lottery, so that I don't have to worry about walking away from things when I'm needed.

P. C. all smiles.

This is what my sister does to me after I bake cookies for her. I PROMISE those are her handprints.

P. Coltrane and I drinkin' on a park bench like the bums we are.

Ct- this is a felted wool rug, it made me think of you.

Only in SF does an "adult toy store" advertise in the public transport station.

Jt- the results of my attempts at bed making..no donkeys here!

Future geek.

Excerpt from an email...

"So, I was thinking hard last night, trying to let all threads lead to an apex. For years now I have thought that I should devote myself to making large sums of money. I just can't have that as my focus. When that is my goal, I seem to be miserable no matter what I'm doing. It has always been a part of my nature to help people. That was my focus for years, and I was happy. When I say happy, I mean it was a joy to be nice to people, not something that took effort. I was accepting of people, not critical of them. I was optimistic. Um, OK, I should stop now, but you get my drift. I may still need to go to the top of the mountain to get specifics, but I think I must stand firm on the generalities."

Flu to new.

I may have trouble with this post. I'm in Sunnyland, and my wi-fi misbehaves here. It is connected for twenty seconds, then drops out for six, then connects for twenty...very strange. I seem to be able to email, etc., but can't post pictures because the software drops out and can't reconnect before the next drop. Oh my.

So I had a horrible case of the flu. My immune system held out the longest, but it still got me in the end. At least I can speak now. :-) I was down and out Monday to Friday.

Poppy came into town for about two days en route to K-ville. I took him to the airport. It makes me sad every time, as I feel I am dropping him into harms way.

Went down to SC yesterday to see Mr. SC, who will now be referred to as P. Coltrane.
I had never been there, and it was fun. The drive down 17 was quick and nice in the daylight (scary and deer filled in the dark), especially since I borrowed Poppy's new wheels. [Though I have to say...I would take the Integra over the BMW any day.] We had coffee and went to a few local tourist attractions. I may have impressed him with my rifle (laser rifle) shooting abilities. We watched surfers and saw a dead sea lion. We got chinese take-out and watched Good Will Hunting on his new giant TV. Fun was being had, and I spent half the time thinking, "Good Lord my armpits stink today.", and, "Um...my pants sure are tight.". Then it was time to go home. All afternoon I figured there would be some sort of kiss, and I just didn't know what to do about that. He made it easy. He told me he was hugging me goodbye, then quickly added a kiss and said, "and giving you a kiss too, 'cause that's just how it is."

OK. :-)

Interesting day.

Didn't want to get out of bed this morning, but was awake by 9:30. I wallowed around until 11:45 drinking cups of tea and reading. I then headed off for fun coffee, shopping, and catching up with Ms. T.

I met up with Mr. SC at about 3:30. We spent the next several hours chatting, shopping for presents for nephews, drinking sake on a park bench, eating burgers, bar hopping, etc. I had a good time, but halfway through also wanted to go home and crawl in bed. I am too tired. Still, I could like him. He is fun.

That being said, I am afraid I am becoming Chandler (i.e. immediately finding reasons not to like/date someone). Probably once bitten twice shy. And then there is the other thing...

Despite my slightly colored past, I haven't set lips on a man in years. Not months, not days...years. I need some practice, but that isn't very practical. What is a girl to do?

When I find the camera cable I'll post pictures.

Friday.

Interesting day. Decided to stay in bed for a while this morning. I felt more rested, but I think I made my right shoulder uber tense. I'm goofy.

Work was fun. My neighbor/yoga teacher client came in and we just chatted and chatted and I went way over time. It was fun though.

I went out (for the first time) with Mr. Blue Jeans tonight. Nice guy, funny, a bit uptight and likes rodeos. We'll see. Went to an Irish bar I hadn't been too. I think I would have been happier flirting at the bar and wiggling to the Cranberries, but it was OK.

I've been having Blowpop (b-day present to me from Mr. Hedgehog) return fantasies. Things like leaving it on his car with a note that says, "You're rude" attached. Popping into his office and tossing it "flying dagger" style at him. Etc., etc.

It was bright and sunny today!

Chinese for two?

Ok, so, I am starting a new blog. I stopped a month short on the last one. I got busy, and then had an emotionally impactful moment with a cliffhanger. When the cliffhanger was resolved by non-resolution I just didn't have the heart to finish things up. Anyhoo.

Tonight it is a cool (not cold) rainy night in the foggy city. I was getting home late from work, and decided chinese takeout was a better idea than grocery shopping. I called ahead (the number IS programmed in my phone), and went to pick it up. It wasn't quite ready when I got there, so I paid and started to wait. The girl that brought it to me was sweet, and I walked back to my car enjoying the green, wet smell combined with garlic and ginger on the breeze. I got home and inside the bag I found lots of napkins, two sets of chopsticks, and two packets of soy sauce. It was assumed I had ordered chinese for two. Humph.

I have decided I don't like the work I do. I have gone around and around and around about it in my head, trying to love it, trying to be motivated to do it. My family has been SO supportive about it in every possible way, I feel like giving it up would be letting them down, especially as I am in worse financial shape than when I started this adventure. That's the worst part. The next to worst part, is that I don't have a clue what to do next. I want to find something I can be good at, and make money doing. I'm at a total loss. Everything I come up with needs a lot more education, a huge initial capital investment, or has some despicable component that I can't get beyond. I then start to feel spoiled. That leads me to the idea that I should just get over it and do something to finally, FINALLY support myself. This then makes me think I should just keep doing what I'm doing (except for someone else that would actually pay me enough to live on). I don't mean to be a downer, but this is the viscous fretting cycle I find myself in at the moment.

Ok, I'm sleepy now. I'm afraid this might have been a bit negative for a first entry, but you know...catharsis.