Josie and the pussycats

Well, for those of you who didn't get the email (don't know if there are any), meet Josie. She is our two year old, black lab mix. She is one of the best dogs I have ever known (besides Oscar, my sister's dog). She is such a fabulous girl. We are just a few days into this whole, dog "ownership" thing but loving every minute of it.

I told my parents and honestly, was a bit surprised by their reactions. Dad sounded like he was excited for us and Mom just said, "you're going to turn into one of those women who have 30 cats and 40 dogs who get arrested..." I assured her we wouldn't and that we would give her human grandchildren.

I can not wait for everyone to meet Josie!! She is learning new things everyday. Kev's been working with her on heeling and "giddy up" which apparentally means, let's go.

The cats are adjusting quite well. Simon and Josie are cohabitating very well and Chloe is interested, but not soo sure yet. Curiosity will get the best of her eventually!

I am so smitten with all my kids!! Josie and the pussycats!

what i've learned

dirt needs to be cultivated (thanks, dad)

it's zummo, not zumo (sorry chris, thanks russ)

wear layers to work when expecting a shipment (must burn this into brain)

take an umbrella everywhere you go in winter in portland (duh)

laundry doesn't carry itself back to be put away (kev's working on teaching it though)

the heart has to let go, even sometimes when it hurts the most (friend from cat group~ just lost her little love)

sometimes you have to move things around to realize you liked it better where it was in the beginning (oops)

be thankful (always, even if you have to figure out what it is your thankful for)

tee shirt sheets

Everyone should own a set of the tee shirt sheets. They are so warm, without being suffocating, and they don't want to let you out in the morning. It has been getting rather cold here at night (nothing like the midwest I know, but it is cold for here) so we busted out the tee shirts! Nothing is as warm and inviting as those sheets, baby!!

Kev was cleaning the house last I heard. I just about repeated myself from yesterday's post. OOPS!

The bus shall prove to be tiring, I am sure. With the ol' bus buddy still there talking of fish they have cooked and packages people want him to ship. Yaaaaawn. Sorry, Dad, I should be more compasionate, but he's duller than dirt! :)

I only have roughly 45 minutes left of work. Wooohoooo. I am looking forward to going home, having a "meal in a bag," doing some more picking up (whatever Kev doesn't get done today) and getting things ready for cooking tomorrow. I have decided to make my rolls tomorrow and the cheesecake. If the rolls are a bust I have bought frozen rolls we have to pop in the oven on Thursday. I am hoping mine will turn out. I had a customer tell me that what make rolls turn into hockey pucks is people who don't let them sit long enough. I will heed her warnings and let the yeast do it's thang.

Keep safe this holiday season and remember, be thankful!

cleaning out the storage closet

Today was spent cleaning out the storage we have off of the cave. It had become a catchall for the extra crap we didn't have any place to store. So, we unloaded the whole room and I consolidated the boxes of things we want to keep and created boxes for trash and donation. We have quite a few things we are letting go of that will find new homes. A couple of coats we never wore anymore and some things that I had acquired at the yard sale we had at the apartment before we left.

We have done a bit of rearranging as well. The computer desk is along a different wall. I'm not sure if it will stay like this, but we'll see. So far we are liking the way it is feeling...

Thanksgiving food has been bought. Got me a 15 lb turkey for $3.03!!! Don't know how the girl made it happen, but it was supposed to drop to a certain price per pound after spending $25. When it didn't automatically do it she did it maunally. I'm not sure how she came up with $3.03, but I'll take it!!! :)

We have six friends coming over for dinner on Thursday. I am getting very excited about cooking for so many people. We have pecan and pumpkin pies coming to dinner with two of our guests. YUM!! I am making turkey, garlic cheese mashed potatoes, green beans with almonds, stuffing, and, if they turn out edible, parmesan and pepper homemade rolls. We bought some frozen rolls just in case the homemade ones turn out like rocks.

I am tired and going to go sit on the couch for a while. It's been a long, busy day of organizing and cleaning.

shoppers

The shoppers were waiting for Friday and Saturday to roll around! It has been busy busy busy here. I love when it gets crazy busy on Saturday since it is my last day of the work week.

I am half way through my day...lunch has been consumed and Chaz brought me a cookie for dessert. I will eat it later as I have already eatten some pears I brought from home for dessert...they just called my name louder than the cookie.

We are getting ready for the stragglers thanksgiving. We will go grocery shopping tomorrow after going out to my bosses house for Kev to take a look at his computer again and by the other store to check in. After groceries we are going to a farewell party for some people we know who are moving to Chicago.

It has gotten very cold here!! 30's today, although they said it was supposed to get up to lower 40's. BRRRRRR!

Okay, going to get ready for round number 4...come on people!

your address

I have sent an email to most of my friends asking for their current addresses (not email, house) so that I may start compiling my holiday card list. When I told Kevin that we were going to write the letter this year he complained, but when I stated that if we don't write it we're not sending anything because I am the one who hand writes the cards. He realized that if he didn't want to get suckered in to helping with that he should just agree to the printed letter. We have had so much happen this last year that I felt the letter would be the best way to go. Of course now that I have set myself up to write it I will fail terribly and none of you will get squat from us. :) At least that is my M-O.

Boy work was slower than slow today. Not sure why. I am ready for the rush of gift buyers. WHERE ARE THEY!???

let it snow...

What a wild day of weather we have had today. It was a combination of rain and snow while I waited for the bus and then as we drove into the city the rain disappeared and it was just fat snowflakes. Now it's stopped snowing downtown and is just cold and wet. It's winter in the Pac NW!! Kev called saying when he woke he felt like he was back in Kansas for a minute, the flakes were huge!!

I have been busy placing orders at work, must get items in for the holidays! We have thought about a red show sale for Christmas. Not sure if we are really going to go through with it, since not everyone celebrates Christmas and red is so associated with it.

Kevin is going grocery shopping today. It will be nice to have more food in the house. I asked him to come up with three meals he'd like to have the rest of the week. Next week we can have the leftovers PLUS turkey!!! Nothing better than turkey sandwiches! Mom makes them the best though. All it is is mayo, turkey, cheese with a little salt, but she makes them better than I have ever been able to!!!

Speaking of Mom they should be in PA now dropping Grandma off at her new apartment today. I have posted that letter today. I was supposed to a couple of days ago, but I kept forgetting. I'm only human!

This weather has kept people off of the streets, which means it's slow in the store. I am supposed to be getting some things for hte windows so I can change them out today, we'll see if Ahmed remembers! :) He's prone to forget things...I swear we share the same brain half the time.

Well, I have some boxes to put away and things to inventory.

back at work

Just as the title says, I'm at the shoe store. It's been a fast moving day, but slow as far as customers go. With the days getting cooler more people are staying inside. BUT this shall change as they get acclimated to their surroundings.

I have come up with my Thanksgiving menu, the boys will all be fed well. I found a roast turkey reciped online that sounds fantastic! If it works out well I will make it again for Christmas. It's pretty basic and there aren't too many herbs or flavors to combat the taste of the bird.

I also have found a roll recipe that I will be trying as well. It's for parmesan, pepper rolls. It sounds quite tasty, really. I forgot to talk with Ahmed about my time off I'd like to get during the time my parents are here. There is a bit of time before then though.

I warned Kev that it may get unbearable these next few weeks because of my excitment, to which he replied, "I don't see how you can talk any more about it than you already do." Trust me, I can talk MUCH more about it!!!

The house has stopped smelling of paint fumes. This is a nice thing. Kev's doing laundry right now, and will be caught up with much when I get home. I will probably still have to do some of my own things when I get home tonight, but that is okay.

We went out to sushi last night with friends for Kev's birthday. It was such a nice time. We have some great friends here!! Jill and Mark and Chuck and Marcy met up with us at our favorite place Umenoki. It was just a walk away from our apartment, but it's worth the drive!!! Boy, watch the girl get sidetracked! I was looking to see if there was a website for Umenoki and ended up on citysearch rating the place. They don't have a site, and the editorial review wasn't right in my opinion...

Well, I have a few things to take care of. Namely my desk. I don't know how, but it always looks like a tornado has run over it at the end of the day.

More later (THREE days in a row?!?!).

ummmmm paint fumes!

We have done it, we have done something I said we were going to do on the blog at the time I said we'd do it!!!

We don't have a purple wall anymore, we have a bark mulch wall!!!! Ain't it purtty? I even painted the small wall like I set out to do. It's not a huge change (Kev kept saying he couldn't tell a difference, until it was done) but it is a warm change!! The original "cream" color Kev had painted (which was the same as the ceiling) looked so grey on the wall behind the blue sofa. Now it looks like a lighter shade of what is on the rest of the walls. The picture didn't really show much so if you want to see it, you must come to the house!!!

My parents are on their way to Pennsylvania with my Grandma. They found an assisted living program back there for her to move to. She's been missing PA and it's been so much for my parents to take care of her. They say she seems slightly excited (she's not mentioned going back to the house since they started talking of her apartment). I will post a letter to her today so she gets some mail shortly after moving in. I will try to write her letters every few weeks.

The breeze comment from yesterday was spot on, well actually it was downright windy!!!

Two posts in two days, I better not spoil you all!! (Especially Russ)

Today I will plan our "straglers Thanksgiving" meal. I like having our friends who don't have family around to go home to over for a big feast. So far we have one friend who is excited about it, Chris. I think I caught him by surprise when I called to invite him. He's such a fun guy that I wish we would do more things with him, but his work schedule is a bit wonky, maybe better now that he is on full time...we'll have to ask him. Our other friend, Linsel, may have forgotten about our invite since we made it at his "denial party" the other night. He and his roommates are denying that summer is over so we all donned our summer togs and sipped cool refreshments in the heat of their overheated apartment. It was a great time!!! I'll have to remind Linsel of our invite...

Well, I'm off to plan a menu!

sunday, rainy sunday

Well sports fans, it is another rainy day here in the Pacific NW. The temperature is in the 50's and there is a slight breeze out of the west. Okay, I don't know about the breeze, but the other stuff is true!!

I am trying to get my dear, darling Kevin to wake so we can tackle the big purple wall that awaits paint. I am getting antsy. I will be much happier when it is painted "bark mulch" like the rest of the room. I have also decided to cut the original color with white to make a lighter version so I can repaint the small wall behind the blue sofa. The cream Kev painted it looks like grey in real life and there is something about the combo that doesn't fit in my design mind.

I am going to send in the troups, I only hope they can do better than me! "Chloe, Simon it's time to wake up dad."

hmmmmm

So I am sitting here at work trying to think of anything that my dear friends and family would find interesting. It's sometimes a very difficult thing to do, come up with interesting anecdotes to keep you all satiated.

Our friend, Bob, whom we stayed with in St Louis, was here overnight last night. He came by the house and he really liked it a lot. We joked with them that three of our houses could fit in theirs while we were visiting. Bob loved the cave (all men who come to see our house love the multimedia room we have so lovingly named the cave). The thing that surprised me most was he actually pet the cats and spoke to them. He grew up in a very large family and they never had animals. He never understood the feeling we have for the kits and always thought we were a bit off our rockers. Maybe there is something about being a dad that makes it easier for him to understand now?

I have run out of coffee it home which means I am draggin' my wagon!!! I had a cup from this great place around the corner from work, but unless I have it right when I wake up it is futile.

Don't you all love the big words I am using this evening? And, they are all from my own thoughts, not from the thesarus!!! (Anyone catch Friends a week or so ago?)

I have just under an hour left of work and I have things to do, so I should go do them (in theory this works, but please reference two paragraphs ago and realize most everything will be waiting for me in the morning)...

I am probably going to play a bit of solitare, pick up my desk, surf the net, maybe right an email or two (but I have pretty much used up all my brain power writing this thing so maybe not).

kitchen is clean!!

I was making breakfast for myself this morning and I decided today was the day I deep clean the kitchen. I am cleaning the oven right now. It's a self cleaning one!! :) I am thinking that I will do some deep cleaning around the house the next few weekends so that when the time draws closer for my family to visit I will not have to do the mega cleaning as I usually do. I am at a loss as to what to do for our carpet in the cave though. It is quite stained from the former owners. We are eventually going to replace the carpet, but not before Mom and Dad come. I have warned her though.

Kev's been looking in the Sunday paper for work. I don't know what he has found, if anything, yet. I know that he will find something soon. I have faith in him.

We, for once, are all caught up on laundry!! Well, I do have the sheets to do, but the clothing is all done! Woooo-hoooo!
It is an ongoing battle since our machines take a long time to do their magic. But, I shan't complain since they are in the comfort of my own home.

I have come up with the list of things to do to the house to increase it's value so when the time comes to sell we will make some $$ off of it. I am a firm believer of the "do one room at a time" theory!! I am thinking since we started on the kitchen it will be the first we tackle. We have discussed different flooring and have decided to go with the vinyl tiles, not the peel and stick, but the type you use the glue and what not. Our original thoughts were to use ceramic, but the bathroom is done in that and boy oh boy is it cold!!! Since the kitchen doesn't have a heat vent we have decided we need to go with something that will not freeze our feet in the winter. That and I think the vinyl will be much easier to keep clean. I also want to add some shelving to the wall by the fridge, it's a big empty space right now that could be used for storage! Then I think the kitchen is done. Oh, and I would personally like to replace the loud dishwasher!!

This will all start happening as soon as we are a two income family again, but in the mean time we can do some "shopping" around to see where we can find what we want and get the best price.

Will take pictures as "construction" begins and ends. Probably won't be for some time, most likely will happen after Christmas time.

Time to go get the sheets to wash...chores never end!! :)

exciting day planned tomorrow

Well, it's exciting for me at least. When we were in St. Louis Ahmed got a call from the Western Culinary Institute, whom have just moved up the road from us. The woman asked if we would be interested in having a table at their new student orientation. He said he had to check with me...

I jumped at the chance!! I said of course we would do it and have been busy getting all sorts of goodies ready to take with me. I've written up information sheets on the three brands we are taking (I must complete those tonight) and a "why clogs" q & a page.

I am quite excited about being given this opportunity. We already sell quite a few clogs to the students, they are actually told to come to us by their instructors, but with orientations every 6 weeks (yes, we will be attending them) we will gain so many new customers!!! Now we just have to make sure we have things in stock, or next challenge.

Kev's gone to see a head hunter, they helped him with his resume (just needed a bit of beefing up) and are looking for jobs within their database for him. I am glad he has taken this next step, as I am sure he is too.

Well, I'm off to go finish up some last minute things before catching my bus home for an evening of board games and pizza with Marcy and Chuck.

fun fun fun

We are now back in Portland and I am getting ready to go to work. We had a fabulous time in St Louis. The friends we stayed with, Bob and Amy, have the most beautiful little girl! Abby has the best personality I have ever experienced! She found her toes while we were there too and just couldn't get enough of them.

The reception was fun, it was nice to see everyone again. We even had a great time with a former roommate of Kev's that I was not all that excited about seeing again. Let's just say we have all done a bit of growing up. He admited to being a jerk back then, and the two of us were sad when he and his wife left the party. I got her email and their address so we can keep in contact. Yes, Russ, Jason was actually very very cool!!

The weather while we were there was odd, very warm indeed. It is kind of nice to get back to where I have to wear a sweater!!! I am hoping things at the store didn't go haywire, I always worry when I am gone.

Kev is planning on calling a couple of places today. I will be checking in with him later in the day to make sure he has.

I am going to go pack my purse for my first day back to work. Even though it was a short, mini vacation, it was worth it for me! I needed a little time away from work and time with good friends.

ta for now...

well...

We are heading to St. Louis tomorrow. We hadn't planned on going, with Kev's job situation and all, but a good buddy of his offered to help us get there (we will be paying him back!!!). I am now expecting a call from the moms (in 3-2-1). We know what you all will say, and you are right, but in our defense life is short. We are only going for three days, and yes we think it is worth it.

I am sorry we didn't tell you on the phone, but we just decided in the last couple of weeks. Please, don't be upset and know that Kev's got something lined up for when we get back (at least that's his story).

I will report back when we get back.

cold has come to the Pac NW

It is true, winter has just about begun. The cold is here and the rains are on their way. We failed to get the eaves done, but the lawn was mowed one last time. I cleaned the heck out of the house, which shouldn't have to happen since I have a stay at home husband right now, but...

It is quite sweet actually, all of Kev's buddies are sending him job sites and postings and keeping tabs on his "search." He did apply online to a place the other day. He said he is going to call this place where our buddy Chris Zumo works (Chris called last night to check to see if Kev had called yet). He works for Volkswagon. Not sure what exactly he does, something with calling people who owe on their cars...but it is work and $$. Kev said he'd call at the beginning of next week. Anything would be good now. We are doing fine, moms, so don't worry. It just is getting a bit old walking in the door to computer games and basketball. I am trying to not be resentful, but it's rearing its head.

I am just finishing up at work, a whole 45 minutes to go before I get picked up. The bus is wearing me out. My bus buddy talks a lot (MORE than me and louder, too) and quite honestly is a bit boring. I really don't care what type of fish he or his wife is going to be cooking, and if I have to hear one more story of him shipping things at work (he works for a postal annex place) I am going to scream. I know, I am such a peaceful girl and this doesn't sound like me, but I'm done.

I think the time change/darker earlier thing is taking it's toll on me this year. I'm just a touch crankier these days. I should calm down soon, but for now I feel like being snotty. Just like allowing yourself to be depressed, I think you should allow yourself to be grumpy. It's theraputic (sp).

Okay, going now. bye

what fun we had

Well, my day with Jill and Chaz was fabulous!! We had such a great time. Breakfast was wonderful, and the shopping proved to be lucrative for us all. It was a day of gift certificate shopping for me. Not totally, but mostly. The weather was almost hot, okay not almost it was darn hot!!! It was near 80!! Today is going to be close to the same, with the sun out as well, so we are really going to paint our little hearts out and get the eaves done.

I am hungry and need a latte so I am going. Short and sweet. At least I have written something for all my die hard fans. :)

yea, saturday!!!

I have had such a busy work week!! Today alone there was never a dull moment and rarely a time where I did not have people in the store with me. I had to call Ahmed a couple of times to come help me. And, even though at 3:00 I felt as though time was standing still, looking back it seems now to have flown.

So, this past week. Let's see.

Wednesday: nothing exciting to report.

Thursday: alot of the same as Wednesday.

Friday: went to a birthday party for our friends, Marcy and Jason (they share a birthday so had a joint party). It was a wild night, as most of the people invited are still college students. Did it make me (us) feel old, you ask? When the drinking games ensued, yes, yes I did (Kev actually played a hand). We were out a bit later last night than I would usually like to be on a "school" night, but I did survive today.

Saturday: I worked my bootay off and Kev cleaned the heck out of the house. It was nice and clean when I walked in the door. It was a gorgeous day today. A slight chill to the air, bright sun in the sky, and...that's all I can think of. I have now finished eating dinner (yummm, bowl night) and watching the World Series. I know dear Jill is probably crying in her beer (or did she say they bought wine) due to the Yankees's loss.

*Remember kids, set those clocks back tonight before bed!*

Sunday: Jill, Chaz and I are running around doing the fun things three young women do on a day where none of us work. We have not had a day off all together in such a long time!!! I am expecting to have a fabulous time, I would expect no less really. We are meeting for breakfast (thanks Mamasita Peggy for my birthday$$ so I can have b-fast with my girls) and getting an early start of being together.

Okay, so I'm going to go obsess on what to wear tomorrow.

Sorry it's been so darn long again...I know, you've heard it before.

ahhhhh, work

Yesterday was so nice to see the girls. We went to Washington Sqauare Mall and walked around. I tried to spend my Gap gift certificate my sister sent for my birthday, but no luck. I think that this Sunday will be different. You see, this weekend Jill and Chaslyn and I are going for a girls day out. We are all looking forward to it! It's been so long since the last girls day that I can't remember when it was.

Today at work has blown by! It helps that I started with the funniest ladies this morning! They just stopped back by with another woman who is with them (for a work convention). Boy, I have laughed both times they have been in today. I told them they had to come by towards 6 to make me laugh some more before I had to head home. One of them mentioned happy hour... I love work when I have great customers in. Very rarely I get real pieces of work in (am I tempting fate?!?!) that are so unhappy with life that they have to take it out on everyone around them. But that is usually few and far between.

Most of you know now that Kev's no longer with Enterprise. I back his choice 100% and am not worried of him finding work. He is quite marketable and I know that whatever job he wants and applies for will be his. That being said, he has been enjoying his time off. I have left him chore lists occasionally, but he's done quite a bit around the house on his own. I am hoping that since today is oddly beautiful (70's and sunny) that he is painting the eaves. I can not promise you that he has, but we can all hope.

Well dear readers, I am going to take my leave. I have some work to do, as it is my Monday and I have paperwork from the weekend to catch up on. I will post more as more happens.

our thrilling weekend

Okay, now that I have your attention...

Saturday night, our friends Joe and Chaz come for dinner. Lasagna is really good, wine is tasty, salad- out of this world. You ask, "can a salad really be that good?" To which I answer, "Yes." I don't know what Chaz did, but she makes a mean salad!! We watched A Mighty Wind afterwards. One of the funniest movies I have ever seen!!! Russ, you should really give it a try. I know you didn't like Waiting for Guffman, but Wind is funnier!!!!! Everyone, rent this movie now!!!

Sunday, was not all that thrilling, I did get Kev to go with me to a fabric store. I had to get some things for a pillow I am making for a wedding. So, I did finish that pillow yesterday. Boy howdy it is beautiful, if I do say so myself. I took it with me to Jill's, but that comes after the haircuts...

I got my hair cut and it looks FABULOUS!! I have found a new hairsylist (actually Jill found her and shared). I looked at myself in Suzette's mirror and thought that I actually looked like a grown up woman. And it didn't feel like the wrong hair style on me. It used to be, with my former stylist, that she'd put so much goop in my hair I'd get a headache. With Suzette I can not wash it the next day and it still looks great. She's from the school of thought that less is more. I love her!!!

After Jill got her hair cut (yes, appointments on the same day) Kev and I went to her and Mark's apartment and drank nice wine and ate cold pizza. Both were quite lovely. I took my latest creation to show my dear friend and get feedback from her. Jill loved the pillow. She said if the recipients did not like it or appreciate it that she would give it a good home. I guess that means she really was impressed with it. After the wedding I will post a picture of it. I don't think the bride or groom read the blog, but you can never be too careful. (I guess they know what they are getting now, if they do read it, but they have no idea how absolutely beautiful it is!!!)

Today is Monday and I am going to meet the girls from the apartments. I have not seen Kerry or Betsy in a long time!! It is going to be so nice to see them. I am going to pick them (with Manny-Kerry's baby) up and we are going to go out to a mall. Oooooh ahhhhh! It's a nice place to walk around and not get rained on. Which rain is in the forcast so it's a good thing we're going there. Plus, it won't be as busy today with the kids back in school.

Well, on that note I must go take a shower and then clean out the trunk. I have to make space for Manny's pram.

Bye for now...