Enchanted

Was a good movie to see with kids. Very funny--Disney spoofing on itself. Kids are tired now, one is crying and threatening to "tell", they were all whining a bit on the way home. The whole weekend has been great so far. The kids seem so grown-up compared to when I lived with them. They follow instructions and entertain themselves and play together well. Their mom only had to work one day this weekend, instead of two, so we've had more time together than I had originally expected.

Last night, my friend and I watched I Am Sam. It's a bit heavy: about a dad with mental delays trying to prove that he is a good father and can handle having custody of his 7 yo daughter.

I talked to my BF this morning and made plans for tomorrow night. He's been a real sweetie about doing all the research. :)

Now I should go meditate. My friend has already started, and if I start soon, we can be done about the same time.

Kid Weekend

I'm in San Pablo for the weekend, visiting a friend and looking after her kids while she's at work. I used to live with this family, so it's kind of like coming home whenever I come over.

Last night, we took the kids to see Enchanted, only it was sold out, so we rented DVDs instead. We're hoping to see Enchanted tomorrow--and to buy tickets on-line, so we don't get sold out again. :)

My cold is better in some ways and worse in others. But I'm really happy. A lot of things seem to be going right, just now. :) Time to check on lunch before we all starve!

Too Long and Too Busy

I haven't posted in too long and I've been too busy to relate it all. Let's just hit a few highlights:

1. Uneventful trip back to Cali, with airport pick-up by boyfriend. ;)
2. Lots of time and talks with boyfriend over a few days.
3. Christmas with family in Pacific Grove; boyfriend with family in Portland, OR.
4. Had a cold this whole time--mostly o.k., but have a terrible cough, so sound worse than am.

Now I need to sleep. More later.

Let it Snow

The trip to Illinois went off fairly well, although it was somewhat emotional for me. I enjoyed seeing my Grandma, but she is getting old and living in an assisted living facility. It is hard to see her aging. One wonderful bit was that it snowed while we were there, and I even got to go out while it was snowing. I missed the really big flakes, but I got to see them through the window.

I also had a couple of good conversations, both over the phone and in person. This morning, before we left, we had a short visit with some of my cousins who have a 1 1/2 yo and are expecting another baby in Jan.

Now I'm back to craziness. I've got to finish my whole to-do list tomorrow. Yikes.

Off to Illinois

Today is somewhat crazy with trying to get stuff done, because we're leaving for Illinois just early enough tomorrow that I want to be all packed and ready before I go to bed tonight.

I got myself back in perspective and got my sense of humor back this morning, helped by some good thoughts from afar. The ice is melting and falling from the trees, and I'm looking forward to going climbing later.

Grumpy

Had a stall in my productivity today. Something unexpected came up and threw me off my stride. I solved the immediate problem, but it left me grumpy and drained. Enough said.

BUT . . . the weather stopped precipitating last night. It left just a dusting of snow over the ice, and the clouds were lighter today, so the world was really pretty. At least that's something to smile about.

Ice World

Today was all about ice. It warmed up enough to start raining sometime last night, but the rain is freezing on everything it touches. I guess they call that freezing rain. So it's really pretty and really dangerous and it's still coming down. We had a brown out earlier, from about noon to 4:30 pm, but power is back on now. No guarantees about how long it will stay on, though, and my parents live in a trailer and the heater needs some power to work . . .

We had lunch with two of my parents' friends, who are my friends as well, which was nice. Then My mom and I ran a couple of errands, and that was about it. I slept for two hours in the late afternoon. That probably means I should be getting to bed earlier, so I guess I'll go do that . . .

Oh, I had a fun conversaion with someone about The Golden Compass, discussing the actors and the plot and so forth. I like picking movies apart after I've seen them, and while I'm watching them as well. I'm glad I had someone to do it with. :)

Oh, the Joys of Small Town Living

I got to re-experience one of the many joys of small town living today at the Rec. Center--getting hit-on (mildly) by a lonely, 50-somethings man, old enough to be my father. Ugh! Luckily, I don't have to deal with that sort of thing very often any more, so it didn't bug me too much, but it used to drive me nuts! Oh well, I guess it's just one of the many reasons I moved away . . . another one to add to the list I gave someone, during a nice, long phone call last night.

On a happy note, it looks like I might be able to do some "real" top-rope climbing later in the week. That will be good. I'll give my sore muscles a chance to rest, then go all out! :)

Other things that have been good lately:

• Lunch with a long-time friend (we had really good Turkish food to go with our conversation)
• The Golden Compass with Dad (a fun, fantasy movie, but since it's the beginning of a series, there were a lot of loose ends)
• Getting things checked off my to-do lists (some projects are easier, while others are more imperative)

Back on the Wall and in the Dome

I got to boulder at the Rec. Center while my mom used the machines today! I haven't climbed in SO long, and getting back on a wall really inspired me to try to start up again someday soon . . . it's good exercise, and fun. ;)

I got my badge and went to the Dome (see the Golden Domes link). One nice thing about going to the Dome is seeing people I wouldn't connect with otherwise.

That's all the excitement for now.

It's a Marshmallow World in Iowa

I actually got just about everything on my to-do list done before I had to leave this morning, and I arrived in Iowa to snow and lights on the Fairfield Town Square. My parents took me out to dinner at an Indian restraunt. Then we went 'round listening to carolers and looking at artwork (it's Art Walk night). We even took a short carriage ride and sang carols. I saw a couple of my friends from collage and several of my parents friends--Art Walk tends to be more of a social thing for me than an art thing, go figure.

Now I'm worn out from travelling, and there is someone I want to call before I go to bed.

Happy Holidays!

Count Down to Take-Off

I have too many things to do before I leave and too little motivation to be efficient about doing them. Not a good combination.

Wish me luck!

Very Tired

I was up until nearly 3 last night, and then up again at 7 this morning to get to work. But it was worth it--the company was good. :)

I ended up working again today with the mom I thought I had finished with yesterday. Money is good.

Nothing much else to say. I'm trying to get through some of the things on my "to do before I leave" list, but it's hard to focus with only half a brain.

More Social Stuff

So, Saturday, I got home, and was doing really well with getting through my to-do list, when my friend who I had dinner with on Thursday called to say she and her boyfriend were going to be passing my way, and could they come over. In the excitement of my other friend flying in on Friday, I'd totally forgotten about the invitation I'd extended, but I was very glad to have them. Luckily, they gave me enough warning that I was able to meditate and get my dinner started cooking before they arrived, so we were able to enjoy a good hour or so of socializing before they had to head out to their final destination. :)

Sunday was church, then lunch at a little French cafe, then BodyWorlds2. BodyWorlds2 was fascinating--like a walk-through anatomy class. I just wish I could have had a break about half way through when my brain got saturated and I stopped absorbing the material. But I wasn't really doing it for school, so that doesn't matter. And I had good company. :)

Today, so far, has been good. Last visit with one of my Postpartum Doula clients ended with a promise to reconnect in January, after holiday travels . . .

Now I'm heading home to rest before dinner and a movie with someone special. :)

Social Stuff

The afternoon with my flight attendant friend yesterday was fun. She came to bring me last year's birthday and Christmas presents, and then told me she didn't have one of them! But really, getting to spend time with her was a gift in itself. And the present she did give me was a really cool, personalized photo album of postcards and stickers. :) Christmas shopping and listening to/discussing Christmas music together was also fun. I've found a local radio station that plays a pretty good mix of Christmas music, including instrumentals (Kenny G) and carols, and doesn't have too many commercial breaks. It also doesn't claim to have 30 minute music sets and then only play 2 or 3 short songs at a time . . .

Right before I went to pick up my friend at the airport, I had 4 phone calls in 15 minutes, so I got to feel popular. That was fun, too.

My to-do list for today is too long. I'd better go back to working on it. Blogging was only one item, but I "had" to flesh out my midwifery soap box link list, which took a while . . . Someday, I'll put all these links onto a web page with explanations as to why I chose each one, but for now, you'll just have to visit them and guess for yourself . . . ;)