being 30something

grey's - the devil is in the details.

It's a Grey's day, and I realize that I haven't been talking much about my Seattle friends lately...so time for a little check in. I've watched last Thursday's episode the requisite two times, and I'm still stuck on some details.

Little Grey - if I hadn't read that the actress is pregnant, I would have just wondered what in the world is that girl eating?? Aside from the chub...the xrays held in front of her stomach? Less than subtle.

Mer - I'm happy about the wedding. Really, I am. However, the knowledge that she's pregnant in real life just ruins some of the fun. She's already rail thin...so I'm guessing that they can't hide it for long. Please, please, please don't turn this into a "me & my sis are preggo" storyline. Gag.

Callie & Arizona - I really, really disliked Hahn. I like Arizona. But I'm not getting the chemistry. The kissing in the stairwell? Had the potential to be hot..but never quite got there.

George - I heart George-the-trauma-surgeon.

Cristina & what's-his-name - ::yawn::

Mark or Richard as best man - Let me get this straight...Mer doesn't want the Chief to be best man b/c he had an affair with her mom...but she thinks the man that had an affair with Derek's first wife should be the best man? Weird. Maybe Denny will be in the wedding party, too?

Deep thoughts, eh?

cereal tastes better outside.

Eating breakfast out on the deck is one of the many little things that I enjoy now that spring is finally finding it's way to the Champlain Valley.

Guess what today is? It's National Walk @ Lunch Day. For real! We're doing a 30 minute walk...we're fortunate to have miles & miles of trails just behind our company property. We walked on Mon & Tues, too...but today we'll be officially recognizing the day!

This all fits in well with the album in my head for the Big Picture class that I'm taking. The album that I have yet to start. Oops!

Enjoy your walk today!

spring break - andros style

Sharing a few of Hope's pics from her Andros trip. They had a FABULOUS time (how could they not?), learned a lot, and really made the most of this adventure. It was so great to have her come home with stories, journals, and photographs...rather than silly plastic souvenirs (a huge pet peeve of mine). Seeing her face when she got home instantly made every late night of working (scrapping assignments funded this trip) totally worth it. Such an awesome experience....

(I just love this photo...it was taken by a little boy from the island)

sunny saturday

Yesterday was the kind of day that prompts everyone to say "can you believe how beautiful it is?". I think them temps were in the 80s! We're back to 60s and rain today, but yesterday's sunshine was a reminder that days in VT can be glorious.

I spent a little time cleaning up the front yard yesterday...I did not inherit the gardening gene from my mother. It's actually a miracle that there is anything growing on this property at all. I have exactly ONE houseplant that I've managed to keep alive for a few years, and the outdoor greenery is pretty much on it's own. I do want to add a raised bed to the back of the house, and we're attempting to grow some veggies this year. In the meantime, I'm happy that I have a few flowers that can tolerate my neglect...

Filling up today with errands until I go to the airport to get Hopey. I've talked to her several times...seems that she left her sunscreen in the Bahamas, and wound up getting burned yesterday in Florida. I'm hoping that she has at least a few pictures to share, although she mentioned something about "sand in the camera" yesterday (which is precisely why I sent an OLD camera with her!). The boys will be gone to a basketball tournament today, so I'll have several hours of Hope all to myself. I told her that we'd go out to dinner (as if she hasn't eaten all week)...she said "as long as I can shower first." Ah, the comforts of home!

I watched Grey's again yesterday...but I'm still pondering what to say about it. I think we should just call this "the awkward season."

Off to the gym & the market....

be good.

I overthink.

That's really my issue with blogging these days. I overthink. I spend so much time worrying about meeting expectations, communicating the right message, providing entertainment, not being fake, using the right grammar (I worship Angie) and balancing words with photos. For the love of...

It's not as if I'm Oprah. Or even Cathy. My strongest critic is likely MB...and I don't even think that he reads this anymore.

So, I'm going to take a cue from Susan, who challenged herself to blog every day last week. Every day. A little something. Does that make you happy, Mom?

Speaking of happy, here's what is making me happy today...

It's gloriously warm today. I'll be wearing flip flops when I'm not going barefoot. After freakishly long winters, this is grounds for being happy. Trust me. I should probably put "get a pedicure" on my list of things to do today. Oh, and yes...I have ugly feet. I come by it naturally...you should see my mother's feet. Just sayin.

Wow, aren't you glad that I'm blogging again?

weekend, wellness, and back to work

Why is it that long weekends seem to go by just as quickly as "regular" weekends? I had yesterday off for Spring Wellness day (a totally made-up company holiday), and I had big plans for getting at least 3469 things done. I mean, really, I had a whole extra day.

Nothing terribly exciting to report from the weekend. Adjusting to Hope being gone. Hating that we don't get to hear from her until Saturday. I know, I know....she'll be in college soon. I'll at least be able to talk/text/email her when she's at college! Anyway...

Finally got a little bit of cleaning done. I'm not a clean-freak by any means (stop laughing Mom), but I was really going to go insane if the shower wasn't scrubbed, and the living room wasn't dusted. I didn't manage to get my warmer weather clothes switched out with my sweaters....hence the lingering piles of clothes. Oh well.

On Sunday, Karen & I went downtown to play with cameras a bit. I'm trying to get back into a picture taking habit, and wanted a little practice. I still need to edit the photos that I took of Karen, but here's one that she took of me. A little explanation...yes, I am really pale, BUT the blown white shirt makes me look a bit Cullen-ish.

Oh, I also went back to contact lenses. I haven't worn them in at least 5 years, so it's been an adjustment. I was finding that glasses were really annoying in yoga & at the gym.

That's about it for now. Riveting, eh? I've been pondering giving up the blogging thing...I sometimes wonder if anyone still bothers to read. Hmmm.

For those who are reading...be sure to check out this week's download at Fiskars.

be good.

my field trips were never this fun.

This morning (at the lovely hour of 4:30), I dropped Hope off at the airport. She, along with 12 other CHS students & 2 teachers, headed off for a trip to the Andros Island in the Bahamas for a week long research trip. Seriously? I remember thinking that going to the mudflats in Monterey was cool.

Yesterday, Hope commented that many of the kids were taking a lot of money...planning to buy lots of "souvenirs" while on the island. She said that she didn't understand why people would be shopping instead of experiencing the island. I'm so thankful that she has this opportunity.

While she's off frolicking studying in the sun, I'll be here in warming-up-slowly VT. I'm looking forward to a 3 day weekend (we have monday off for a "spring wellness day")...doing some serious housecleaning, meeting up with Karen for some photo fun, maybe doing some yardwork, and hopefully working on my Wellness album for my BPS class (that I'm taking, not teaching).

be good.

frankie says relax.

I managed to hurt my neck/shoulder somehow. I initially thought that I had just slept on it "funny"...but the pain just wouldn't go away. I spent a long lunch break on monday getting a massage. The massage therapist kept telling me to relax my shoulders. She thinks that part of the issue is that I'm holding all kinds of stress in my neck/shoulders. So, over the past couple of days, I've tried to be more conscious of tension in my shoulders. Guess what I've noticed? My shoulders are usually all the way up by my ears. I think it's probably a combination of bad posture, always being cold, and yes..stress.

So, I'm trying to notice the tension & release it. I'll let you know how that works out.

i am too tired to come up with a witty title.

Not that my entry titles are always witty. Or ever witty. I'm just tired.

Today was draining. I woke up frazzled from a crazy dream...one in which we were late for Hope's flight to the Bahamas, and stuck on a bus that was filled with people and chickens. Now, it's entirely possible that we'd be running late, given that neither of us are morning people. But that bus? With the chickens? Not likely. (Robert, the chicken part is your fault...a chicken auction? seriously?) When I left the house to take the kids to school, I realized that I forgot my cell phone. So I had to turn around to go back home & get it. Work required work, and left me a little lot mentally drained. After work, I headed to the gym...only to discover that I'd left my headphones at work. I drove to a local drugstore to buy an extra set. Then back to the gym. While on the treadmill, I realized that I was missing an ingredient for the chicken parmesan that I was making for dinner (no, Robert, not the chicken). Then home, dinner, emails, blogs, facebook, twitter, checking in on the BPS class, and watching a Grey's repeat. So. Rather than whine about the details of the day that left me feeling a bit bruised, I'm opting for gratitude instead....

*I am grateful for friends who check in via email & facebook to just see what's going on. (I will answer, I promise)
*I am grateful for having 3 seperate occassions this week where I was stressed about a bill/expense...and on every occassion, I said "the universe is abundant. it's going to be okay." Three checks/deposits showed up that exceeded the expenses. thank you.
*I am grateful for the sun & warmth that the weather delivered today.
*I am grateful for the glass of wine that was already poured when I got home.
*I am grateful for super-secret-lip-balm that y'all will love when it launches.

be good.

april is...

*the month that reminds me that self-employment is no fun when it come to taxes
*the month that brings balmy temps one day and wicked cold rain the next
*the month that springs Easter on us when I'm completely unprepared
*the month that the Big Picture class that I'm taking starts...can't wait!
*the month that Hope leaves for her Andros Island research trip
*the month that we get a monday off for "Spring Wellness"
*the month that fun projects are up at Fiskars

good times...