R & R

The weekend has been lovely.  Great Fall weather, lots of time to rest and hang out with the boys and Mr, and good food too.  Made Mr's cake and we had it at the family celebration today...it came out pretty well.  It was the first time I've made buttercream that you cook...but it was delish!  Of course the bitty balls of chocolate chip cookie dough I filled the center of the cake with helped too.  Tomorrow is another day of relaxation along with thai massages.  Mr. loved the gifts I've let him open so far...he's saving at least one for his actual b-day tomorrow.  His fave so far was the staghorn fern...or moose fern...they're such cool plants that end up growing on the sides of trees.  Ours of course is in a pot that hangs off the wall, but hopefully as it grows and we repot it, we'll be able to rig it to a cool reclaimed piece of wood, or a door or something cool.

Today we're in a food coma, about to walk the dogs and hopefully walk off some of the cake too.  We have a new calendar of fun dates and things we want to do before we move to the next place next May.  We set dates to schedule our next tattoos...so excited, and not sure I wanna wait...but trying to be good. Excited for all the things to look forward to.  Just happy being where I am and with the people that love me like I love them.

Here's to a great week and lots more ink! - Rin

TGIF

It's finally the end of the week and the start to a three day weekend!!  Mr.'s bday is Monday, so we're taking the day to relax and get some pampering via our favorite thai massage place.  So, as usual friday means a long day for Mr., so I'm home with the boys,walked em, fed em, walked em again.  Even cleaned and emptied the dishwasher.  Usually by now I am either planning to bake something in order to stay busy, or I'm searching for another project to add to my wish list.  I am a step closer in making my boys their new beds as I discovered that I had enough upholstery fabric left from an old old project that will be perfect.  So, that's a done deal once I get Stitchy out of the coat closet and get him goin.

The rest of the weekend will be birthday cake baking, fondant rolling, and final shopping, family time, lots of good food, and hopefully plenty of fine wine.  Last weekend we had a fleeting moment of excitement about the possibility of realizing our dream of living in the woods when out of the blue an associate Mr. has worked with in the past emailed that she wanted to find someone to live in her home and thought Mr. and I seemed to be a great fit.  We actually drove out that day...way out to be exact.  It was almost an hour and a half away from where I work...it was brilliantly adorable and had so many of the things we are looking for too.

And to be honest after two days of considering all the pros and cons, I was leaning towards thinking the huge commute was worth the chance to live somewhere so peaceful and with so much space to do fun things with.  They seriously had enough space, and even a fenced in area, for goats and chickens.  I could almost taste the amazing eggs and goat cheese!   Unfortunately, with some influence from some parental units, and the reality of fuel costs and the possible effects 3 hours in a car may do to one or both of us (if we could commute together), we have almost completely walked away from the possibility.  I think I honestly am more sad than Mr...when he was so for it in the first place and I was the one considering all the other options.  But whatever place we find, I know it'll feel like home as long as I have Mr. and the boys...and a big kitchen!  The boys just want a yard, they're sick of peeing and pooing while leashed.

So, that's that.  I was going to make dinner...but I have no idea when Mr. will be home, so I'm hoping he's ok with ordering a pizza and some beer.

Peace, love, and laughter - Rin

Another week down.   Where is 2012 going.  It's crazy that candy corn is already all over the place and I've even seen a few candy canes to boot.  Picked up my car from the dealer...he's all fixed and back on the road.  Of course I was a bit miffed that after over a week and almost three grand they didn't even bother to bathe him.  So, since I'm going in to the office tomorrow, I figured I'd take today off and after the boys were fed, walked, and settled...and Mr was off to work, I went outside with a bucket and soap and gave Earl an old fashioned hand washing.  I remember when washing my own car was a weekly ritual. Makes you appreciate it a bit more it seems.  I think I'm going to try and set up some sort of routine where I at least clean and detail the inside on a regular basis...and if I don't return to the convenience of someone else washing him, I may do that too. Of course after all that I am contemplating taking the metro to work once or twice a week and running the trail home.  Seems efficient and beneficial to my health...until winter at least.

Looking forward to some friend time this weekend, and some time laying out some plans for the next few months.  Really have a lot to get going at the office, and I want to make sure the projects on my list at home don't pay the price.  Sometimes I have too many creations in my head for my own good, and nothing gets done.  Then one day I sit down, draw or list them all out and just go down the line.  I've been wanting to make my boys some new dog beds, and I even already have the memory foam core ready to go.  Just have to find the fabric and get Stitchy out of the closet.  Then I need to get going on my silhouettes I wanna do too as a sample for the ones I want to create for my office lobby.  Then there's that surfboard I've had painted white since I moved into this condo...waiting for me to figure out what exactly I'm going to do with it.  I think I just need to get out my paints and start getting color on it, and see where it leads me.

So, today was pretty relaxing.  Caught up on some interventions and hoarders...wow, is always an understatement on those shows.  And then I whipped up some homemade pumpkin dog treats.  Now I'm just hanging out waiting on a word from Mr. that he's on his way and I'll get my domestic ass back in the kitchen to whip up a meal.

Until next time - Rin

MANdatory Monday

Checking Monday off the list is like one of those tasks that seems to make everything else on the list seem easier.  It's like getting on a bike after it's been a few years...and then you realize, it's just another bike ride.  It may  have different bumps and turns, but you'll get to the end and have a beer to celebrate.  So, that's how I see the week.  All the true sides of everyone in the new office are starting to show and my psychologist side is reveling in figuring everyone out and whether they're feeding the crazy or trying to calm bring normalcy to the place.  So far I am optimistic that I have enough of the heavy hitters on my bringing calm side to make it possible to get my job done and still have fun doing it.

As for the non-work stuff.  Tis good, tis great.  Had an amazing weekend even though I worked Sat morning.  Still felt like Mr. and I had lots of time to have fun and enjoy some R&R.  My dogs had a great weekend and enjoyed lots of hikes and we're all loving the fall weather.  If I could have Fall and Spring I'd be golden...oh wait, I'd be southern Californian...and I was.  :-)   But something about winter seems fun too, mainly the excuse to indulge in deliciousness and holiday cheer.  Oh, desserts...lots of desserts.  I'm  thinking of baking up some doggy treats tonight to take to some work people and have on hand for the boys.  That way i'm not baking something I can eat. Safer that way.

Cheers - Rin

Lounging Around

Last week was a long week...a doozy to be exact.  Isn't it just life to get you cranking along up hill...seeming like things are just peachy, then smacking reality in your face with a $2400 "routine maintenance" bill for your  vehicle.  Really?  I almost through up when the dealer called me with the news.  I know there are people in worse situations, and I am always grateful for what I have an what opportunities have come to me, but sometimes it's a bit much to swallow the bullshit and not want things to be a bit easier.  Of course they had my balls in a clamp, and not in a good way either.  They claimed I couldn't drive it out, so if I wanted to get a second opinion I would have had to deal with a tow, and more expense.  Of course the $3000 extended warranty I added when I bought the truck didn't include anything like this since it was "wear & tear".  So they called to see if I would approve the repair or not.  Sure, I don't approve the repair, I'd love to pay my monthly car payment and just use the car as a really large flower planter and park it in front of my building for my neighbors to enjoy.

So, out of the shit storm comes the ever present fact that Mr. is still my rock and always lends the stability and outlook that bumps come and go and we'll get over it somehow.  He truly is the first person in life that has been there for me in a way like no other.  Able to say exactly what I need to hear, and completely mean it.  Of course that just made me guilty for the pity party I had been throwing for myself, because I know there are plenty of people going through shit without anyone to back them up...but I've been there too, so I am one hundred percent grateful and appreciative of it all.  Just wishing life would give me a bit more time to get up hill before it kicks me in the balls.  I said fuck it, fix the shit and I'll pick it up when I figure out where I'm robbing peter to pay paul.  Wouldn't life just be easier if we all had a trust fund sitting waiting for stuff like this.  If all of our families thought long ago to make a little account for us that just sits accruing interest for lifes shit party to kick off...and just have it pop up and save the day.  Ah life...it's bitch when all you want is the beach.

Anywho, enough of that rambling.  In other news, I'll be taking donations to get Earl back...and hoping not to have to rely on installing video cameras around my house and putting it online.  lol.
We're just having a chill Sunday.  Slept in, walked the pups in the woods, and now i'm about to draft up the weeks grocery list.  Love the fall, but I hate the growing temptation to make big casseroles and crock pot meals that are not waistline approved.  But I think I'm going to say fuck it and just pre-portion them so that we not only have leftovers stocked, but I don't go without and then hit the point where I go full throttle.  We'll see...Mr. hates leftovers, so that's always fun to try to pass off in his lunch.  So, that's that.  Here's to another week coming up and hoping to get through it and still be able to float through to next payday...otherwise, I'll be on the corner in my short shorts.  :-)

Cheers - Rin