MANdatory Monday

I keep missing days and then weeks and then when I get back on here I feel bad for not keeping track of everything going on.  Vacay was AMAZEballs.  For real.  No we didn't go on some crazy trip to Bali or Europe...just a simple trip to San Diego to show Mr. around all the places I lived and loved while I was a Californian...I still am deep down.  We drove around, hung out with the friends I call my family, and did some fun stuff like kayaking with shark, the zoo safari park, and plenty of beach time.  It was good just to have all that us time.  It's so necessary to validate the work and routine that life requires.  And considering how work has been...it was pretty much necessary for sanity alone.

On the work front...why does it seem every post lately involves work...oh yeah, it's overwhelming me and consuming my existence!  Interviews are popping up this week like comments on VH1 in the 90's.  Bring them on.  Some very cool opportunities though and just in time.  Really crossing my fingers for a few of them...which is weird considering how big these choices end up being in your life...what path they'll lead  down...what marks they'll make on my career...and what stamp they'll leave on my experiences.  For now I'm just wooing each recruiter and keeping every opportunity even and available for what is meant to be.  The benefit being that I have a new found ease to my days...like there is an end in sight to the madness that is my current work day and schedule.  So that's that...on to a better state of being and becoming more open to life and enjoying the now.

Since the new job and then the onset of this insane heat wave I've been running on such a spotty and   uninspiring schedule that I'm about to buy a treadmill and squeeze it into our condo somehow.  I just need that constant opportunity to burn the energy and wear out any anxiety and pent up frustration...and yet I can't see the good in running when it's a heat index of 110 degrees.  So, as I'm always looking for a good deal I'm going to keep my eye out on craigslist for a treadmill and see what options are out there.  Who knows, maybe i'll find something that doesn't suck and isn't a rip off.  We'll see.  But for now I run when I can and do what I can to stay in shape and sane.  Maybe staying sane is just not natural for me at this point.
Who knows...I can try at least. :-)

Ok...here's the good stuff...Start the week off right.

Computer Is Cuh-put.

Ugh...just when you think things are rolling along...your laptop goes to a black screen with a blinking dash mark. Will be posting from my phone until I get it reset to the defaults and move past losing all if my photos and documents to the great lost files god in the sky. Blurgh Turds!!!

So, please bear with me...and ask Buddha to send a little love my way.

Cheers - Rin

Couch Dreams

Ah Sunday.  Survived the visit from my parental units and Mr., as expected, was adored and loved by both of them.  I took the rents to my fave breakfast place and then we popped downtown to the modern art museum.  There were a few inspiring pieces and an amazing collection of screen prints from Warhol that spanned an entire floor stacked one after the other.  All based on a single shadow in his apartment in Soho.  Crazy how all together they created this huge piece of art, but alone were just a shadow and some different paint colors.  Then we popped into the American Indian Museum and the building itself is almost enough of a reason to go...beautiful.

After a quick bite to eat at my fave little cafe we did some couch time and a walk with  my kids on the trail.  Then we popped over to a lovely little upscale Irish restaurant and pub and had a delish meal!  I slept on the couch with my two boys (of course the dog's couch was completely empty most of the night) and actually didn't sleep to poorly.  My folks are headed off to the beach house now and the kids and I may just be in for a late morning, post coffee nap.  Mr. is off at Yoga and I think will be doing a double class because he's just that amazing.  I think once it warms up a bit I'll hit the trail alone for a run so I don't feel like such a loaf.  Tonight I'm hosting dinner for the lesbos and Mr. and making a Beer Butt Chicken.  I just have to find a can of beer that isn't crap.  I thought I could get a six pack of soda, and a twelve pack of good bottled beer, and just empty a soda and use the can for the good beer.  I think that's probably my best bet.  I don't want my good chicken to taste like ass beer.

Anywho, that's where I stand...just some relaxing chill time today with friends and my dogs...and a bit of running in between.  Hoping for a week of clarity and resolutions at work.  With another court date on the horizon between my feuding bosses, but no actual day set, I'm just lucky if I can get through the week without getting a subpoena.  Blurgh.  - Rin

Tattoo Tuesdays

Sunday Funday

Woke up with my man curled up next to me...best way to wake up fur sure!  Of course we were hit with an ungodly early snowfall yesterday.  Luckily it mostly melted after hitting the ground.  It was even cold enough last evening that we broke out the dog's coats for the evening walk.  No they are not covered in Swarovski crystals.  They are utilitarian and yet remain adorable when the boys are out and about in them.  We rented "Paul" last evening...cute...not as good as the other movies by the same guys, but still had some good parts.  I of course adore Kristen Wiig!  She kinda stole a few scenes, which I had no problem with at all.  We wanted to get "Bridesmaids" but Redbox blew that plan, so at least she was in "Paul" and I wasn't totally disappointed.

Today Mr. is working...I'm just feeling really campy around the house.  I pulled up some extra paints from my storage room in the basement so I may get one of my new projects rolling.  I do have to pop out for some final elements to my costume for work...yes, we dress up at work.  I also am making chicken and dumplings for our potluck tomorrow.  I think i'll get everything cooked and just assemble it in the crock pot tomorrow morning.  The cold weather makes me want to bake and simmer shit til I can't stand it any more.  Weird how we're programmed to feel like that...the cave has a chill, we must make more food!

Anywho...must get rolling.  I figured some meat below would be a healthy way to start the day of cooking and what not.  - Rin

Sunday Funday

This weekend is flying by...why, oh why do they do that.  Weeks drag, weekends fly.  I think we should work two days and take 5 days off.  Where do they have jobs like that...that pay full time?  Or I need to move to a country that believes in the two hour afternoon siesta...so that weekends aren't so jammed packed with fun.

Last night we changed our plans a bit and decided to walk to a restaurant close to my place, sit outside, have a beer, and just chill out a bit instead of hitting the city.  We walked in, looked around at all the people dressed up and all the hipsters in bow ties...glanced at the huge stack of cupcakes and the chalkboard congratulations sign, and realized we walked into a wedding reception.  We were like, ummmm I guess the restaurants not open tonight.  Some douche in a bowtie was like, you didn't notice the door sign?  I looked at the 3x5 index card sign and said, no, maybe you should have had something a bit more noticeable...douche.

So after the disappointment that we wouldn't be walking to dinner, or enjoying our favorite butter butter chicken and parm fries we decided on an alehouse...two beers and dinner later we were bum tuckered and just came home and ate some of my pear pie and crashed out.  Today was my first intro into his family.  Brunch with his brother, sister-in-law, and their adorable children.  It's refreshing to be with a family with kids that actually have a sense of parenting.  Brunch was fun, and of course the kids were center stage, so it took some of the pressure off the initial introductions.

Came home from that, took a nap, and now I just finished cleaning and ran to the store for some lunch items for the week.  Really looking forward to getting out of town for a couple of days on Sunday.  Mr. suspects where we're going,  but I'm doing my best to keep the definite place a secret.  Of course his mother wants me to give her the address since she hasn't met me yet and I guess doesn't trust her youngest son running off to a secret vacation.  I guess my Mennonite pacifist heritage isn't enough yet.   Oh well, I have no problem winning over moms.  So, I may just let the secret out to Mr. so that he can tell her and put her at ease.

Tonight we're headed to the city for the Gay & Lesbian Film Festival and dinner.  Hoping to get Mr. to a great little eating spot that I think he'll adore and that I've been dying to get back to.  Gotta feed the dogs  so I can get them out and set before we need to peel out of dodge.

hugs - Rin

Saturday Slow Down

This week is a blur.  I was barely aware of what month we were in most of it and hardly took the time to figure out each day of the week.  I do recognize that sometimes I try and fit too much in to my days...but so much of what I have to do isn't always enough, so I end up piling on extra to feel challenged I guess.  Work is work...can't say I'm not keeping my eye out for a change of scenery, but not pounding the grindstone for one either.  I would like to see resolution with the owner dispute...one way or the other, so at least I've stuck with it this long for a reason.  Otherwise I should have just walked when it all started getting nasty and not dealt with the BS for the last year.  But I think if some golden opportunity were to waft by my nose, I'd eat it up in a heartbeat.

I've been doing everything I can to keep my dogs working and busy so that when my schedule does get a little tight, they're at least able to handle a drive by walk and feeding and I don't carry the guilt.  They've handled the move into a condo and single parenting so well, that I give them a huge amount of credit.  It is tiring though and at times a bit overwhelming.  I have no idea how single parents of two legged children do it.  Huge props to any of them that successfully accomplish it for sure.  I set high standards for myself with my dogs and I really do follow the saying: "Be the person your dogs think you are."  I made a commitment to rescue them and make sure they never have the kind of lives they had before, and so that keeps me going.  Hence the waking up at 645am on a Saturday and getting out on the trail before sun up.  We're back, coffee in hand, they've eaten, and now they're playing in between short nap breaks.  I'd really like to just be back in bed like this guy!  

Not exactly sure what I have going on this weekend.  The week was such a blur I didn't even have time to make any solid plans.  Mr. and I had dinner on Thursday at a local vegetarian restaurant.  Time with him always flies by.  Yesterday I took a half day and finished up the cake for my coworker's son's 5th Birthday while he hung out with his family and niece and nephew.  I'm going to get to the gym in a little bit to check that off my list, then he should be headed over here this afternoon.

 The final product for the cake:

Ok, my dogs are going nuts playing and I'm a we bit hungry.  Must eat before I hit the gym.  Hoping for a great, relaxing and invigorating weekend for all!  - Rin 

Did you bring your shower shoes?