innamorare

Borks vs. the Yard: Extended Weekend Edition

2011-07-04T10:16:00.000-07:00

Kendra vs. the Vine, pt 2

It appears that I missed a few roots - the vine popped up again where I had been painstakingly digging it out. I think I'm going to have to do some research and figure out what my options are. Mom and Sister came to help with the yard on Sunday morning, so Mom now has also faced down the vine.

The Morris women hell-bent on stress relief: 10,000. The Bork yard: 0.

I've got a plan for the backyard now, and it involves quite a bit of demo of existing plants and moving of pathways (the latter of which are just bark with edging strips - at least I'm not moving brick or concrete!). After the last few months of stress, I thought that a little demo might be a good stress reliever for all of us, even if it is 100* outside around noon. We got an early start and quite a bit done. I was even able to replant the bed along the fence with plants more befitting The Plan - a casual, smidge-on-the-wild-side, cottage-type garden. Drought tolerant, of course. Witness the results:

The remnants of the Indian Hawthorn bushes from the fence bed and the stumps in the foreground.

Sister's demo work - I think I'm going to start calling her the wrecking crew.

Looking back at where the Lantana bushes used to be - yep, that blank spot there.

New plants. A mixture of Sweet Pea Bushes, Yarrow, Lavendar, and Russian Sage.

Borks vs. the Yard: Kendra vs. The Vine

2011-06-25T21:42:00.001-07:00

(...several months, a wedding, and a honeymoon later we find our intrepid author now an official spouse and facing a yard suffering from winter-, rain-, and wedding-induced neglect.)

It's innocent-looking enough, this vine. Gary even commented on how pretty its flowers are.

It's of the devil. It spreads underground via a root system that breaks if you look at it cross-eyed. I've had to resort to digging a pit in the area where I know its spreading and sifting through the shovelfuls of dirt by hand.

(It may not look like much, but it's about 6-8" deep.) So this is how I have spent my last few weekends - battling this vine. Otherwise, it spreads, climbs up the other plants, and slowly chokes out the plants I would really prefer to have. Of course the only thing it doesn't seem to be choking out is the stupid Lantana, which is the plant in the backyard that I would really love to see go.

We did have some help today in the campaign against the yard, thankfully. And we will next Saturday as well. We'll probably get the vegetable garden built and planted just in time for the fall crops at the rate we're going!

One day to moving day

2010-09-24T19:06:00.000-07:00

With a lot of help from our friends and family, we are one day away from moving day with the house pretty much ready for move in. Yeah, we need to paint the trim, touch up paint here and there, and finish the kitchen and bathroom, but we'll be able to get our furniture in and settled tomorrow - and that's what matters.

I'll try and get pictures taken pre-move in tonight or tomorrow morning. We'll see.

Now for the fun part - decorating!

Instant Gratification

2010-09-21T00:44:00.000-07:00

seems to be missing.

All day Saturday was spent removing wallpaper. Sunday was more of the same, with some painting thrown in at the end of the day.

The boys moved everything out of storage into the garage - after leaving a little bit of room for the electrician to move (and I do mean a little), it's full.

Tonight I finished cutting in the hallway, then helped pull padding staples out of the hardwood floors while Gary pulled up the tack strips. He's gone back to clean and polish the floors (yes, at 1:00 am) while I write this and seriously consider bedtime.

This week we'd love to get the walls in the living room cleaned, primed and rolled with paint and the carpets up in prep for moving this weekend. We'll see. After I finish cutting in the paint in the master bedroom, it looks like I'll be dunking some sponges in TSP for an evening or two.

A few pictures from this evening (sorry for the bluriness - iPhone + lower light):

The wood floors, uncovered.

Looking out into the hall from the master bedroom. You can see the carpet that was in the bedroom as well as the bedroom (non-wallpaper!) paint color

The hallway (and living room and bathroom) paint color

New house!

2010-09-17T00:05:00.001-07:00

For those who have been following me on Twitter, you'll have probably seen that Gary and I just closed on our first home!

It's a 1951 bungalow on 1/3 of an acre in the historic area of town, and we purchased it from the original owners who built the house. I really want to keep it as original as possible, which means I'm scouring restoration blogs to make sure the changes that I'd like to make won't detract from its charm. Who knew it would be so hard to find out what door knob finishes are considered appropriate for that time period?! (I'm reduced to looking at pictures in the blogs and going based on what is currently there. They may have been polished brass at one time - though I'm not a big fan of polished brass, so I'm looking for alternatives.) It looks like the tulip shape is proper.

I think I should have taken pictures of the current knobs - I only took one of the front door lockset.

Did I mention I've always wanted a magnolia tree? (Are my southern roots showing?)

Hobbies switch

2009-11-23T18:32:00.000-08:00

One of the problems with living/being squished in a one-bedroom apartment is that any time that I want to switch hobbies, I have move stuff in and out of storage. After a few lessons in sewing, I've started sewing clothing for myself and Christmas gifts. Out with the scrapbooking and home décor stuff, in with the sewing stuff. A few items I've made (more to be uploaded over the next few months - don't want to spoil Christmas suprises!) - http://www.flickr.com/photos/kendramorris/sets/72157622469837857/

Independence Day

2009-07-05T23:11:00.001-07:00

This week's menu

2009-04-19T21:48:00.000-07:00

After reading simple mom's approach to menu planning, I'm trying planning two weeks at a time, and then repeating so that I have a month's worth of menus. I have a basic daily layout that I figure I can rearrange when needed to accommodate evening schedules.

The basic plan:
Monday - Mexican
Tuesday - Pasta
Wednesday - Soup, salad, or sandwiches
Thursday - Crock pot
Friday - Something easy
Saturday - Something new
Sunday - Pizza, salad, dessert

This week:
Monday - Low-Carb Mexican Casserole
Tuesday - Pasta with Broccoli Slaw and Tuna (with olive oil and red wine vinegar)
Wednesday - Crock BBQ Chicken Supper (mostly for Gary - I'm DJing the local swing venue)
Thursday - Sausage Italian Wedding Soup
Friday, Saturday - Gary's on his own. I'll be at Disneyland for my sister's birthday/bachelorette party
Sunday - Kayla's birthday dinner (tacos at Mom's)

I was originally going to make Roasted Chicken, Onion and Rosemary pizza on Sunday until the birthday dinner was scheduled earlier today.

After being menu-plan-less for the last few weeks, it's nice to have a plan for the next couple weeks. I have to admit, though, there was plenty of food in the freezer and pantry to eat off of, and there is still plenty left. I took this into account when I went shopping and should be using up the rest of my chicken thighs over the next few weeks. I really, really miss the chest freezer that my sister and I shared when I lived with her. At least I have enough room to pre-assemble some of the meals so that they just require defrosting and cooking.

Menu Planning Monday

2009-02-25T08:30:00.000-08:00

This is a little late...in fact, I thought I had done this already!

Here's this week's plan (and a bit of it in reverse...)
Monday: Crock pot chicken (nothing special - just a whole chicken in the 'pot with cajun seasoning)
Tuesday: Gary ended up making dinner because I was running late. Kielbasa and rice with a bit of stir fry seasoning. Sounds weird but it was good.
Wednesday: Baltimore Hash (again. I really liked it.)
Thursday: Baked Chicken Thighs - probably with a spinach salad and some kind of veggie from the freezer
Friday: Dinner out. I'll be in the mountains this weekend with friends.

Venture 3.0 series

2009-02-25T07:43:00.000-08:00

I'm starting a series of posts over at Venture 3.0 on applying the 7 Habits to the hiring process.

Menu Planning Monday

2009-02-16T22:49:00.000-08:00

I'm working on getting around to regular menu planning. My problem is I plan out the week and then don't get around to making all the meals for one reason or another. I'm trying to start rolling over meals instead of starting from scratch each week.

For this week...and probably the next:
(mostly from savingdinner.com)

Monday: Mini Meatloaves
Tuesday: Baltimore Hash
Wednesday: DJ'ing at the local swing venue - dinner on the way
Thursday: Farm Stand Frittata
Friday: Pan-Seared Salmon with Mushrooms and Spinach
Saturday: Chicken and White Bean Soup
Sunday: Leftovers!

lazy weekend

2009-02-16T21:20:00.000-08:00

It's been a while since I've posted. Mostly I've been working - these days my job is keeping our employees employed, and we've managed to bring 3 new employees on board over the last few months.

I've also been fighting the urge to unplug from everything that is going on. I've been listening to The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People and know that the economy and politics are in my area of concern and not in my area of influence. At least not really. I'm writing letters, but don't really know how much of an influence that has. It's a little discouraging, really. I guess all I can say is that I didn't vote for any of this. That I hope this doesn't turn out too badly. *fingers crossed* As a small business owner, I really wish that the government had chosen to pass along the tax cuts to us so that we could afford more employees. It's not like we're in the direct line to benefit from any of the proposed spending bills or anything. In fact, I'm a little worried about the other included items making it actually harder for us to do business.

Again, my job right now is to keep our employees employed.

on eating better and moving more

2008-09-25T16:08:00.000-07:00

A quick update - I'm 3 pounds lighter over the last three weeks, and 2.97 of those are solid fat pounds. Oh, and 3 1/2 inches smaller. I've been stuck at the same weight for quite a while, so it's nice to see the numbers marching downhill a bit. Of course, in actuality, it looks a lot more like a stock market graph - including the recent downward trend.

Gary and I have spent a lot of time trekking up to Riverside county to look at houses. We're about a year out, I think, but it's nice to know what's out there and what prices to expect. The customer service aspect of it has been rather interesting. I can tell it's getting cutthroat when we are accused of being "from the competition" just because we have a checklist of questions to ask everyone. Sheesh. Really, the best of part of it is the road trip. We get a chance to chill and talk about our opinions on floor plans, customer service, politics and finance...and whatever audio book happens to be playing on the car stereo at the moment.

Back to work - I've been whittling at a huge Pile Of Crap from my inbox(es) and desktop. I've got it down to a quarter of its original size and hope to have it completely decimated by the end of the day.

getting back on track

2008-08-27T22:00:00.000-07:00

Perhaps I'm a bit late with resolutions, or maybe I'm getting an early start. Or maybe I'm seeing my birthday in a week as a 'new year.' Whatever the reason, now that I've got my financial situation an itsy bit under control, it's time to turn my attention toward my health. I've discovered www.fitday.com and have been using it to keep track of my weight, activity and nutritional goals. (It's free! And you can add your own foods.) I've made some progress, but it's definitely been eye opening to have to hunt down nutritional information for restaurants when I eat out. What I thought was a nice, healthy meal at a local steak house turned out to be over 1000 calories! Keeping track of what I'm eating has definitely helped me to make more informed choices.

While looking up information on how many calories I reall should be eating, I also came across Burn the Fat, Feed the Muscle, which contained a things that I knew, but also quite a bit more background that made the things I knew make sense. If you don't mind reading the 300+ pages, it's really worth it.

Monday's Daybook

2008-08-04T21:25:00.000-07:00

FOR TODAY August 4, 2008

Outside My Window...
it's dark. The windows are closed because the air conditioning is on. It was a hot day!

I am thinking...
about the choices people make. (I'm watching Heroes. It's an interesting commentary on society.)

I am thankful for...
having enough to be able to hire new employees and share our enough with others.

From the kitchen...
I am still eating out of the pantry and freezer. Even when we had company over this weekend, the only addition was some fresh corn from the store.

I am wearing...
black pants and a "Life is Good" t-shirt. Sunny side up!

I am creating...
room in my bookshelves by passing along books using bookmooch.

I am going...
to try and get to West Coast Swing lessons this month. It's been a while.

I am reading...
Managing with Power by Jeffrey Pfeffer. I haven't yet finished On Food and Cooking.

I am hoping...
that this week won't be too hectic as far as rent collection weeks go.

I am hearing...
the low hum of the air conditioner

Around the house...
I need to send out my Creative Memories things and my bookmooch books.

One of my favorite things...
is hanging out with G in the evenings.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week:
dance lessons, work, and finishing off the rest of Heroes Season 1.

Here is picture thought I am sharing...

late again!

2008-07-29T09:45:00.000-07:00

FOR TODAY July 29, 2008

Outside My Window...
I hear muffled traffic. It's overcast, and somehow the clouds seem to dampen the noise a bit.

I am thinking...
about finishing payroll and all the other things that I must or ought to do.

I am thankful for...
the 5 new properties that we have added to our management portfolio this month!

From the kitchen...
I am working on eating out of the pantry and freezer this month. I'm trying to see how little grocery shopping I can get by on. This should be relatively easy, as when I menu plan for a week, we usually only end up eating about half the meals because one of us works late and the other fends for his/herself.

I am wearing...
a skirt, layered sleeveless shirts and...flip flops. I love owning the company. ;)

I am creating...
time for myself to get some reading done.

I am going...
to the vascular doctor tomorrow to see if he can figure out what is going on with my foot. He's the third doctor - 3rd time's the charm?

I am reading...
Dark Watch by Clive Cussler. I haven't yet finished On Food and Cooking, but I wanted some light reading.

I am hoping...
that this next month finds my budget not quite so stretched to the limit. And that my taxes get straightened out soon!

I am hearing...
the murmurs of residents talking in the reception area.

Around the house...
I need to finish laundry and clean the top of my desk off. If I can get the next batch of Creative Memories items returned, that will clear off a portion.

One of my favorite things...
is being the only one in the office. I get so much more done - so long as no one is stopping by!

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week:
A trip to the doctor, a possible birthday party, and a (hopefully) quiet weekend.

Here is picture thought I am sharing...

posting this a day late...

2008-07-22T23:32:00.001-07:00

FOR TODAY July 22, 2008

Outside My Window...
it is dark and peaceful, and I can hear the crickets chirping.

I am thinking...
about the book that I just devoured (yes, in one evening - Deep Storm by Lincoln Child) and wondering how much later G will be working.

I am thankful for...
my sister arriving back safely from her trip to Texas, even with the scorpion on the plane and the rough flight. (Not having seen Snakes on a Plane I do not know if a scorpion on a plane is similar.) ;)

From the kitchen...
I will be packing a picnic dinner for tomorrow night when G and I go to the Hollywood Bowl to see Chris Botti in concert.

I am wearing...
pjs!

I am creating...
not much of anything lately. I've taken a step back from scrapbooking and the like because my life is so full of other things at the moment. My current creative outlet is dj'ing for a local swing dance venue.

I am going...
to the dentist tomorrow morning, and then to Hollywood tomorrow night. As usual when I travel north, the first part of my journey involves taking the train, which I love to do.

I am reading...
On Food and Cooking: The Science and Lore of the Kitchen by Harold McGee. Also up this week is Eternal Echoes: Exploring Our Yearning to Belong by John O'Donohue. (I've already finished my two fiction books checked out from the library last weekend. The aforementioned Deep Storm as well as Clive Cussler's Golden Budda.)

I am hoping...
that this week moves at a much slower pace now that I've finished sending out the financial reports to our owners.

I am hearing...
the sound of someone's air conditioning almost drowning out the sounds of the crickets.

Around the house...
I am working on laundry. And this evening I noticed that I should probably work on cleaning up the sink area in my bathroom. And I need to finish sorting items off my desk.

One of my favorite things...
is having a quiet evening at home without the t.v. on - especially when I can just sit and read.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week:
trips to the dentist, Hollywood Bowl, dropping G off at the airport for his trip to the Brickyard 400, swing dancing at the Firehouse, and a possible rare trip up to Atomic Ballroom in Irvine if I can find someone to carpool with.

Here is picture thought I am sharing...

countdown to (a wee) summer vacation

2008-06-24T13:24:00.000-07:00

This Friday sis and I leave (the airport) at 6:45 am and hopefully begin our journey to Orlando. (And I do mean hopefully. We're flying Delta out there and Continental back - neither airline that I have had a good experience with. I'm already nervous because I haven't confirmed a seat for both of us out of LAX. I'm told 'there are reserved seats. Don't worry about it.' Riiiiiight. I'm gonna worry until we are both on the plane and taking off.)

We've already figured out how to leave from someplace closer than Escondido, which will allow us to sleep in about 15 minutes longer. Of course, having to be at the airport somewhere between 4:30 and 5:00 am, that extra 15 minutes may or may not mean anything at that point.

We got a taste of it this morning - a trial run - when we had to drop mom off by 7am. From Escondido. As much as I'm looking forward to this trip, I'm not looking forward to the first few hours. Not until I can settle in on the plane and fall asleep. (Oh, wait. We're on a puddle jumper to LAX first. Guess I won't be sleeping until we get on the plane at LAX.)

But on to the fun part - we have two days at Disney plus unlimited laying around by (or in) the pool while mom's at her conference. Did I mention sleeping in? I plan to do a bit of that too!

peaceful as a hurricane eye

2008-06-19T16:54:00.000-07:00

It so eloquently describes today. I'm between the rent collection and bill-payment rush of the beginning of the month (not to mention the properties that closed and the SDCAA Expo) and the end of the month payroll and month-end stuff. Days like this I feel like I have time to lift my head up out of the weeds and look around to assess the damage - not to mention clear my desk off a bit.

The lastest from the house is a new addition. Yep, we now have a Wii. I must admit, it's my favorite, though the Xbox is close second because of Rock Band. Gary has finally gotten me to play video games with him now, too!

----------------
Now playing: Paul Simon - Hurricane Eye (live)
via FoxyTunes

on hitting balls with sticks

2008-06-18T00:04:00.000-07:00

Sis bought me a set of golf clubs for my birthday (which isn't for a few months), Gary bought me a golf bag. I actually ventured out tonight and hit balls with sis and Sean. While I'm not terribly athletic naturally, I at least managed to connect with the ball a few times, and it managed to do more than just skip across the ground. I can already tell my arms and hands will be sore in the morning from trying to get the grip and swing down (as much as one can when you have less than part-time instructors.)

A Wii arrived in our household today as well. I can see that there will be debates as to whether Mario Cart or Rock Band will be set up over the weekends. I guess we need to move to a bigger place so that we can have a game room with more than one tv set up. (Maybe the rock band can be an accompaniment to the Wii games.) I forsee much killing of time ahead. Good thing none of us are in school!

tongue tied

2008-06-16T23:11:00.001-07:00

In my spare time I've been working through the French version of Rosetta Stone. I've learned quite a bit - especially that my pronunciation sucks. Spanish and English I can handle, but when have yet to be able to pronounce 'rose' and 'bleu' satisfactorily enough for the computer program...well...I skip those words quite a bit during that part.

It would probably help, I suppose, if I worked through it a bit earlier than 10:30 pm. Maybe.

Good eating requires a certain investment of time and effort.

2008-06-08T22:15:00.000-07:00

(Anna Thomas)

I did get most of what I set out to do done this weekend. I most definitely slept in, though not as long as I would have expected, it was enough that I was no longer exhausted. I planned out the next two week's worth of meals and went grocery shopping. I think there are a few items I wasn't able to get, but I didn't feel like venturing out to another store after Costco and Fresh 'n' Easy.

Here's what the next few weeks look like (in no special order):
Dinner-
Chicken Milanese with sauteed swiss chard (tonight's dinner)
Chili Cheese Pork Chops with a side salad
Blackened Tuna with squash and steamed kale
Smothered Chicken with a side salad
Chinese Beef and Pea Pods with steamed green beans and cauli-rice
Barbecued Pork Loin sandwiches
Carolina Crock Pork with a side salad
Beefy Crock Stroganoff with steamed broccoli
Pork Chops and Mushrooms steamed green beans
Minestrone Soup with a spinach salad

Breakfast-
Cottage cheese with strawberries or fruit yogurt
Scrambled eggs with cheese and/or bacon pieces
Eggs, spinach and Havarti cheese on 1/2 an English muffin
Cereal (the old standby!)

Lunch-
Lots of salad with ground beef, chicken, tuna, roast beef, or broiled salmon

I'm not above repeating meals, so breakfast and lunch will be repeated once or twice as laziness or desire prevails.

While making dinner, I started the simple syrup for Basil Lemonade from Orangette. It's all ready now, but I think I'll hold off until tomorrow night so that the sugar doesn't keep me up tonight.

tomorrow's Friday. right?

2008-06-05T23:05:00.000-07:00

If so, that means soon: sleeping in, putting away laundry instead of moving it from place to place, figuring out why I have ants walking in one side of the doorway, around the door jam and into the bathroom, getting a little cleaning done so I can see the top of my desk again...and did I mention sleeping in?

Today wasn't so bad, except I could tell I was falling off my game after the stress of the last few days. I now also have an owner who thinks I don't know the correct angle of horizontal vs. vertical blinds. *sigh*

And to top it all of, somehow people involved in the sale of the property think that I refused to deliver the rent checks back to the property yesterday. Um, hello? No one told me that they needed to be redelivered so that they could be picked up yesterday. In fact, I wasn't even supposed to be in San Diego yesterday. I had to come down because of the administrator password issues with the on-site's computers...and come to find out, they're all getting new computers tomorrow anyway. Bleh.

I think after this weekend I'll be doing much better. Extra sleep, some down time, and some time to put my room and my car back in order will help.

i survived!

2008-06-04T22:46:00.000-07:00

Today went much better than I thought it would. Except for the admin password issue. But I was on the phone with the on-sites before I was out of my pj's this morning to get updates on what rent had been collected, and I had emails out to the attorney with updates by 9am. About noon while I was sitting in the CEO luncheon I attended today (more later), I was so curious as to why I wasn't being bombarded with requests for more information, I actually emailed to see how things were going. There were no further requests. I was shocked. And escrow closed with no further mishaps. Except for the admin password that was written on a post-it note. In my planner. At home. While we were trying to clear our company's things off of the on-sites computers and reset the admin passwords for the new company.

So tomorrow I'll be up early and down on properties to finish up resetting passwords and the like.

Phone calls to WaMu and an owner's insurance company went so well this morning, that I called the Dr's office to follow up on the referral that I had yet to receive. I've been so frustrated with the fact that it is like pulling eye teeth to get in to see the dr. for the problem I am having with my foot. It took me two weeks and about 10 phone calls to see the dr initially. Then I got a referral to a podiatrist. Or so I thought. I've been waiting for a week for the letter that I was supposed to get last week. I called Monday to follow up and left a message. Did not get a phone call back. (Big surprise.) So I called again today and was told that the referral request was just put in on Monday and was still in for approval with the insurance company. I saw the doctor on May 23rd! I unleashed on the person on the phone. It is absolutely ridiculous that I cannot get a phone call back and have to babysit the doctor's office just to see someone. I had already sent a scathing email to our company's insurance rep last night at 11:00 pm (and got a response back moments later!!). The lady on the phone promised to send messages to three people and personally follow up on them tomorrow. I then called our insurance rep. He promised to call the doctor's office and give them hell too. I got a phone message from the doctor's office just after.

I got a call late this afternoon - referral approved, with a name and phone number to make an appointment. Squeaky wheel gets the grease? Honestly, I prefer to just be nice about things, but I will not be walked over. Yes, it was not exceedingly urgent, but that doesn't mean that it isn't still important!

Anyway.

More on the CEO Luncheon: Rob Slee, author of Midas Managers, presented on the new conceptual and aggregation business models and intellectual capital's role in both of those. The traditional business model? So 1990's. The conceptual business model has owners defining their process steps, identifying the steps that are their intellectual capital, and then outsourcing the rest. The aggregation business model has owners managing, not owning, the entire process chain. Most businesses? Traditional business model. Unfortunately, you have to go through conceptual to get to aggregation, and as I learned, you've got about 2 years to make the transition if you're already behind.

The challenge for us as a service company is applying what sounds on the surface like advice solely for manufacturing-type industries. Our intellectual capital as a property management company is most apparently our ways of doing business (how centralized we are, how accounting is handled, etc.). However, in thinking, another part that falls under our intellectual capital is our relationships with our owners. This is something that allows us to be as successful as we are, cannot be outsourced and, considering how much we really rely on word of mouth for referrals, is desperately important to the vitality of our company.

Mom, sis and I meet in a couple of weeks for a weekend-long strategy session. Between this and the Grow or Die seminar, we will have quite a lot of fodder for thought.

escrow closing. send padding for my cell.

2008-06-04T01:03:00.001-07:00

I've been through escrow closings before, but nothing like this. Three properties closing tomorrow, and they just started asking me for stuff at the end of last week. Did I mention that one of the on-sites had managed to screw up just about everything she had done in the last month. It's one of those things that causes me to have homicidal thoughts. Especially when all of this mayhem is discovered while I am trying to ready the final rent roll for the title company. I suppose that I shouldn't complain too much now - I started out with 4 people emailing me and asking for the exact same items. At least I was able to narrow down my contact list to just one. This would happen to me during rent collection, too.

After tomorrow, my stress level will drop tremendously and that twitch in my right eyelid should subside somewhat.

back from camping with a slight sunburn on one leg

2008-06-02T19:06:00.000-07:00

Oh my what a busy month may was. And unfortunately a lot of it involved employee issues that made life, erm, interesting? but that can't be discussed here. Oh how I wish I could, though. The sheer laziness and cluelessness of some people just amaze me.

But on to other things.

I'll only be out of town one weekend this month - a change from my 3 weekends in May and two in April. Yes, you will find me at Disneyworld at the end of June. I've been to Epcot, but not Disneyworld. (And Disneyland, I hear, doesn't count.)

Gary's parents will be out the first week of July, so all the parents get to meet each other. And the Fair! It starts soon! Like, in a couple of weeks! (And yes, the San Diego County Fair, aka the Del Mar Fair, deserves every one of those exclamation marks.)

Camping was highly entertaining. The cicadas were molting and leaving little shells behind - mostly bodies with legs attached and a wide split at the back of the head. A little freaky if you ask me. They looked like little aliens. And of course, one grew quite attached to the back of my leg. I had to swat it off not just once, not twice, but five times. That was on Sunday afternoon and right around the time that I decided maybe it was time to go home. Did I mention that it tried to follow me home? Somehow it got stuck in the cup holder in the back seat and make this strange noise that sounded like my dog Kalvin shaking when in his car seat. But neither Kalvin nor his car seat were in the car. So it was a little weird until I figured out what it was. It got a free ride after the car wash courtesy the gust of wind just as I flipped it out of the cup holder.

So that was my weekend. And it ended with a nagging sinus headache. But it was worth it.

home

2008-04-16T09:05:00.000-07:00

Random thoughts from a weekend in Vegas:

-Vegas is awesome when you get to stay off the strip at someone's house
-The swing dancing crowd there is very friendly...and not exposed enough to balboa
-Red Rock Canyon has a pair of very possessive...and persistant! bees
-The rockabilly crowd is very colorful - in more ways than one
-Deke Dickerson + guitar geek festival = awesome
-Big sunglasses + fish eye lens = not so awesome picture (bug eyes anyone?)

The weight of my suitcase and bags wrecked havoc with me. Or is it my allergies that has caused a sinus headache? Either way, I hurt from the shoulders up, including my head.

The next few months are booked (through the end of May, even!), but it's really nice to have a weekend or two at home to put things back into place. Even if I do have to help mom get her house ready for sis' engagement party.

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Now playing: Michael Bublé - Home
via FoxyTunes

planes are passing by

2008-04-11T11:20:00.000-07:00

Each year Bal Rendezvous seems to get better and better. Perhaps it's my attitude toward the event - this year I didn't kill myself to stay late or be there first thing in the morning for the first workshop. I enjoyed the music, and as a result, the dances more. Or perhaps it's because one of the instructors asked me to dance. Or maybe because people from my level were asking me to dance. (Does that make me sound like a dance snob? I hope not...)

After not enough time to recover from last weekend, I'm heading to Vegas this afternoon for Viva Las Vegas. (A rockabilly music event for the uninitiated.) I do have to get through payroll entry first, however - something I am currently taking a break from.

Speaking of work, there are some things in this world that I just don't understand. One - employees who walk off the job without a word to anyone. In the afternoon. And never return. And don't return phone calls for like a week. C'mon. We're big girls. We can handle that you don't want to work for us anymore. Chances are, we don't really want you working for us anymore either!

Two - punk kids who while walking home from school decide that it is a brilliant idea to destroy other people's property. Really. Do you think we didn't hear you kicking in the board of our fence? I know you did because I was looking at you when you suddenly decided it was a good idea to continue sauntering up the street. Actually, I feel really old saying this, but I really don't know what is going on with kids these days. I hear them every single day on their way home from school, screaming at each other, screaming profanity at each other, taking pot shots at our fence...I mean really. Don't you have better things to do with your time than this? You'd think they would notice that the key shop on the corner has nearly the entire block covered by his surveillance cameras. Not much happens that he doesn't know about. Sheesh.

Maybe I just spent most of my childhood playing pretend outside or with my nose in a book (or doing homework and yearbook stuff as I got older). And people wonder about the state of the world.

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Now playing: Astrud Gilberto - Trains And Boats And Planes
via FoxyTunes

i'm in a spin

2008-03-31T23:07:00.000-07:00

In a continuation of my previous post, for those searching for budgeting software and a new way of looking at your money, check out YNAB Pro. The 4 Rules are enough to turn most people's finances around, and the software is enough, simple, and as far away from overkill (like Quicken or Money) as you can get. Unlike the other software mentioned a moment ago, you'll actually use all the features!

Anyway. I've been noticeably absent because I've been helping mom paint her house. Oy. The eaves alone were enough to give me a back and knee(s) ache. Perching on a step ladder and/or the edge of a planter bed can't be good for you. Not to mention that the wasps were eyeing her eaves as their promised land. I think I knocked down at least 3 new nests. Thankfully the black widows that have sometimes taken up residence were much absent. (I can't stand spiders. *shudder*)

Gary lucked out and spent the weekend in Vegas hiking Red Rock Canyon. He *claimed* he had a trade show to attend early this week. Mmhmm. Suuuuure. You just didn't want to paint. ;)

Next weekend is the Balboa Rendezvous, so I will be relieved of duty...or AWOL, depending on who you ask!

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Now playing: Ella Fitzgerald - That Old Black Magic
via FoxyTunes

another summer day has come and gone

2008-03-23T22:13:00.000-07:00

Happy Easter!

It was a quiet day this year as far as Easter goes. We haven't done an easter reunion in several years now, but quiet is good.

When not working on work stuff this last week, I've been working on straightening out my financial situation. I started to do this last year about this time as well, but it all went to hell in a hand basket with an unplanned root canal (stupid braces) and the death of my father, who lived in England. Now that I've somewhat recovered from those two items, I'm focusing again on getting an emergency fund built up and getting out of (bad) debt. I've found a couple of good sites from laypeople, most notably It's Your Money. From reading up, it seems my problem last year was launching into the reduction part without establishing a beginner emergency fund. Not that the emergency fund would have covered the whole of my troubles, but it would have made a small dent.

I think Gary's gotten tired of coming home from work to find me camped out in front of my computer, hashing out a budget that takes into account as much as I can think of.

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Now playing: Michael Bublé - Home
via FoxyTunes

i've been living with a shadow overhead

2008-03-14T13:55:00.000-07:00

I spoke too soon last week. I've spent most of this week without a tenant/accounting database. Or at least without one of three - the most important one, of course. It finally came back from tech support today, nearly 1/4 of its original size. So far as I can tell, everything is still there. I have to wonder exactly what it was that they compressed for it to shrink that much. (Maybe the program puts in a bunch of junk? Who knows.) At least it's working again for now.

This weekend, provided it doesn't rain, Gary and I are hoping to head out to the Anza-Borrego Desert to check out the wildflowers. I've been wanting to get out and go hiking, but it seems like I've had something going on all of the recent sunny, warm days. (Darn work.)

I did finally upload quite a few pictures from last fall to last weekend. They're up on my flickr account. Which reminds me that I need to hunt for my extra battery and memory card before tomorrow.

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Now playing: Hugh Grant & Drew Barrymore - Way Back Into Love (Demo Version)
via FoxyTunes

It might as well be spring

2008-03-05T18:54:00.000-08:00

I survived rent collection...yet again. I think I need a t-shirt to wear to work on the last day with this slogan. This month seemed to go a bit more smoothly than most. Maybe it's because I'm not facing down a huge stack of papers in my inbox. February 29th was highly productive for me. Add to that the satisfaction of also catching up on the financial filing today for the management department (sadly left to linger since last September), and I'm a happy camper tonight.

The weather lately has been fabulous. It's quite easy to wake up early and hit the gym when the sun is shining through the blinds at 6:15 am. I'm actually kind of sad that this weekend is the daylight savings time change. I'll have to wait a few weeks for the time to catch back up to the daylight again.

Gary bought DDR (Dance Dance Revolution for the uninitiated) yesterday. He says he bought it because I kept talking about how I wanted it. I knew - and he later admitted - the truth. It's so I have something to do while he's off with his RC car. Now to get a second DDR pad so that my sister and I can play at the same time.

My copy of Rosetta Stone - French showed up yesterday. Guess I'll head home for a lesson or two in French language.

Au revoir!

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Now playing: Astrud Gilberto - It Might As Well Be Spring
via FoxyTunes

Hip Hip

2008-03-01T18:09:00.001-08:00

Though I missed the first few episodes, I've lately been hooked on PBS's America's Ballroom Challenge. Proof that dancing is dancing, even though I know nothing about ballroom dancing really, I was still able to predict the winners. (Why is Jive a Latin dance? I still don't understand this...) I really enjoyed the exhibition dances, especially Max Kozhevnikov and Yulia Zagoruychenko dancing to Hip Hip Chin Chin, which as soon as the song started, I announced, "I have this song." Gary gave me a strange look, but hey, I do! And I now have a new-found appreciation for it.

Moving from Latin dancing to French language, I'm getting ready to tick another item off of my lifetime to-do list. Learn French. At some point, I'll revisit Spanish, but French is currently on my radar. I nearly didn't because of the cost, but after going through the demo I plunked down the change for Rosetta Stone. Honestly, I have no desire to learn Turkish, but I now know how to say woman, man, boy, girl, eat, run, and, drink because of said demo. Well, I might not be able to pronounce it, but I could certainly read and recognize it. So long as I am willing to learn to crawl before I run, I think the immersion style of learning will suit me much better than the vocabulary-cramming and verb-conjugating days of my high school Spanish classes. (On the bright side, I am able to read the doctor's note that one of my employees brings me in Spanish...)

Speaking of Gary, he just arrived home. I've been an RC (radio-controlled, for the uninitiated) car widow most of the weekend. Well, make that the last week. I've talked him into Be Kind Rewind tonight, though. Popcorn and nachos for dinner!

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Now playing: Club Des Bellugas - Hip Hip Chin Chin (Yaziko Club Mix)
via FoxyTunes

Natch.

2008-02-27T18:22:00.000-08:00

Gary's feeling better, which is my cue to fall prey to his cold. Going to bed extra early last night helped some, but I have a feeling I won't make it past 9:30 tonight either. Which means I'll have to beg off of my dinner night. (Who really wants someone who is sick cooking their food anyway...)

On a bright note, mom is back from her trip on Friday. I didn't expect her until Monday, so I'm excited. My sister's got to babysit Friday night, so it looks like I'll be taking mom home and having to leave work early. Darn.

Hopefully tomorrow I'll be less foggy and won't misplace things like I did today.

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Now playing: Polyphony & Stephen Layton - Sleep
via FoxyTunes

After dinner

2008-02-25T20:42:00.000-08:00

The consensus in the household is that brussels sprouts are liked better than butternut squash. Again, no leftovers, though, so at least I don't have to worry about dealing with those.

I'm usually quite a night owl, but tonight I'm pondering sleep before 9:30. Being surrounded by sick people, it's probably not a bad idea. Well, maybe after we're done watching Passport to Europe.

I know Gary's feeling better - he's harrassing Kalvin again! (If Kalvin could speak, the language wouldn't be fit for mixed company, I think...)

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Now playing: Orkney Sessions at the Reel - Dark Island
via FoxyTunes

The music is all around us. All you have to do is listen.

2008-02-25T17:14:00.000-08:00

Today was one of those days that makes you wonder why there is such a thing as working indoors. Warm, but not too much so. Sunny. A very light wind. And totally clear for the first time in a week. The rain makes me appreciate the sun...and the sun the rain.

I feel pretty lucky, though. Kalvin gets to come to work with me, and he has a backyard to hang out in if he doesn't feel like laying quietly by my feet or taking a nap in the kitchen. And I get to have fuzz therapy anytime I need it.

It sounds like Gary's left to go home early, so tonight I'll make sure the sicky is laying low so he feels better quickly. Soup and hot bread and a movie should be just the thing.

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Now playing: August Rush - August's Rhapsody
via FoxyTunes

Everybody eats when they come to my house

2008-02-24T21:37:00.000-08:00

After a leisurely morning and an early afternoon spent figuring out what is for dinner for the next week (and who was cooking it), my sister, Gary and I spent the rest of the afternoon traveling from store to store gathering ingredients - 4 stores in all. Really makes me wish that there was one store that had everything, but when you're looking for ground mace and ham hocks, sometimes only a large chain grocery store will have it.

Tonight's dinner was the fabulous Pasta with Hashed Brussels Sprouts and Pine Nuts. I was a bit worried - I know that I like brussels sprouts, but I was unsure of everyone else. Not that I need worry. Everyone literally licked their plate clean. Even my sister who doesn't like nuts (though she likes pine nuts, I've now been informed) ate every last morsel. Much maligned vegetable, indeed! Tomorrow night's dinner is Apple and Butternut Squash Soup that I am currently let simmer, mostly because it saves me from having to cook soup after getting home (with the bonus that the soup tastes better the next day...and the day after that). I bought a baguette today that I'll serve with it. Mmm. Dinner. It'll be hard not to take part of it for lunch, too!

Later this week, I plan on roasting a chicken. That means that I should have leftovers for chicken sandwiches with herbed mayo. If I can remember to grab them in the morning, the best part about cooking is the leftovers...when there is any!

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Now playing: Lothlorien - Schottische Fran Havero
via FoxyTunes

Let the rain fall down, I'm comin' clean

2008-02-23T17:53:00.000-08:00

I think this is the first chance I've had all day to sit down. Aside from my trip to pick up Gary at the airport, I've spent all day cleaning up. Small though it may seem, I think the biggest accomplishment was wading through my jewelry to find all my mismatched earrings and return them to their mate. I suppose they get that way when someone other than the owner packs them up to be moved. (Yes, for the record, they've been like that since last May.)

Since Gary's sick and probably going to crawl into bed, it's probably a good time to pick through my cookbooks and latest inspirations on Orangette to make a menu/shopping list for the next week or so. Honestly, it feels a lot like Sunday to me, so I still can't believe my good fortune that I don't have to work tomorrow. It's supposed to rain tomorrow - again - so I'm looking forward to a morning of sleeping late and waking up to the sound of rain dripping from the eaves...and not having to drive to work in it.

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Now playing: Herb Alpert's Tijuana Brass - Ladyfingers (Camara Kambon Remix)
via FoxyTunes

I don't wanna be anything other than me

2008-02-23T00:04:00.000-08:00

My sister got engaged on Valentine's Day. Of course I'm completely ecstatic for her...except for the fact that she is now off the hook with the relatives. Up until now I've been able to dodge the "so when are you getting married" question, even though I'm the older sibling. I simply smiled and pointed to my sister and mentioned that she'd been together with her boyfriend longer than I have with mine. Now? Now I have no defense except to smile mysteriously and murmur something about 'someday, maybe.'

They're talking next spring...which also doesn't bode well for my moratorium on moving again for a year (after moving twice in less than a year). The thought of moving actually sends me into a panic. My stuff is currently scattered hither and yon - the condo, the storage unit, the office/house-where-I-used-to-live... I have to admit, though, the one bright spot is that I would have all my pots, pans, and kitchen what-have-yous back in one place so I could cook properly again. (No more rummaging through my sister's cupboards for thyme or olive oil before having to traipse downstairs to the garage to dig through my box of spices and oils to find what I need.) Maybe I'd even get to spread back out again and banish some of the electronics from the bedroom!

Who knows what the next year holds...maybe Gary and I will end up in a little house with a little yard where we can plant a few bulbs and rose bushes and a lime tree (and he can make sure they actually get watered...hee!)

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Now playing: Gavin DeGraw - I Don't Want to Be
via FoxyTunes

New-found loves and other such things

2008-02-22T23:58:00.000-08:00

1. Orangette: Makes me want to cook more than ramen noodles and popcorn again. She talks of food with intimate knowledge of how tastes combine, of what is in season from the local farmer's market...as if each food item were an old friend. I can only aspire to pay enough attention to learn to cook without recipes, and to modify recipes without worrying whether it will turn out or not. Even if you don't like to cook, it's a worthy read - she's a great writer.

2. Rock band: (Thanks a lot, Jason!) It's terribly addicting, and while numbing my brain to rock music, the synapses in my brain sparked a little bit. I think there's something there that might actually help me with my "real" music. I've never had music theory, so the thought of just jamming and soloing around chords escapes me. But this...hm. We shall see. Must. play. more. (Just to help me play my other instruments. Of course!)

3. Kaki King: I first heard her music on the sountrack to August Rush (yet another thing I have absolutely adored as of late), and it brought me back to fingerstyle guitar and Michael Hedges. I found Hedges' album Arial Boundaries on iTunes and instantly was thinking of my Dad who played it all the time. Something about the percussiveness of the guitar style these two play speaks to me.

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Now playing: Rich Price - Love Come Back
via FoxyTunes

(transferred from my MySpace blog)

28 geese in sudden flight

2008-02-22T19:03:00.000-08:00

It's been harder and harder lately to keep my blog updated - it's not just updating the blog, but updating the software too since I have been hosting it on my own site. Plus, it's missing all the cool stuff like FoxyTunes! So, I'm moving things here and hoping I'll keep it updated more.

In the meantime, I'm looking forward to Gary being home from skiing in Colorado tomorrow...except for the fact that he got sick while there.

Tonight finds my sister and I playing Rock Band and eating cereal for dinner. So much for my food inspiration from Orangette. Maybe next week.

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Now playing: Art Garfunkel - Everthing Waits to Be Noticed
via FoxyTunes