Day #305 - 40th Birthday - Mel Dana

I will mostly just post the photos for Mel's Birthday party expertly planned by my Brother Jason. We were all to write something to give to Mel to put in a scrap book her two daughter's made for her. I wrote "10 things" for Mel, since that is my thing this year and there was quite a nice stack of letters waiting to be added to the book. Jason went all out - there was a coffin in the front yard with signs on it, balloons inside and outside the house, several cakes and tons of ice cream.

The best cake was made by a lady Mel works with - it was a cruise ship named "chicken of the sea" in honor of Mel's love for her own pet chickens and Jason gave Mel a cruise for her birthday and to celebrate their 20th year of marriage next year.

Jason was so excited - it was really fun to watch him in action as the host of the party and taking charge, making sure everything went as planned. It took Mel a while to figure out that he had bought a cruise for her...she seems very excited. I couldn't really tell at first - I think she was a bit overwhelmed with all the attention, but she kept asking for details and rubbing her hands together later. Here are some other photos of the fam...

There was a great turn out for the party. Mel is a very well loved person and I am REALLY proud that my Brother did such a thoughtful thing for his wife. Mel mentioned to me at the party that she has often thought over the years if her kids would ever do those thoughtful and memorable things for her one day that we have done for our parents over the years (i.e. making a family scrapbook, family calendar, notes, etc.). I guess now she knows...

HAPPY B-DAY MELANIE

I Am Grateful,

HB

Diva Quote: "Tis the privilege of friendship to talk nonsense, and have her nonsense respected." - Charles Lamb

Day #304 - Good Days

I have been having a lot of strange mood swings lately...can't blame Aunt Flow this time. My temper is quick draw at work and my patience has been wearing thin. I can't blame the work load because this is the slowest time of year for me, but I feel that flash of impatience rocket thru me at the smallest things. I feel my eyes close and I take a deep breath so I can turn my head and smile at the offending party constantly reminding myself that I have love for this person and it is not his/her fault.

I have been doing the same thing with Travis and it is driving me BONKERS. I KNOW better than to take the bate of "the look" or the snarky comment and I KNOW better than to GIVE "the look" or MAKE the snarky comment - it is IRRESISTIBLE!! Oh, but the price is too high; the pie is too humble; the necessary time it takes to make amends - too long. How many times must I teach myself the same blasted lessons?

I am just now deciding I should try to get more sleep, maybe I am just tired. Today was actually a lovely day. I took one of my 10 days off today and did mostly nothing...well, nothing productive. I read a book, loaded the dishwasher, read my book, let the fireplace guys in the house to service the fireplace (which looks fabulous now that it is all clean again), made brownies for Mel's party tomorrow night, forgot to eat lunch (weird), went out to get my nails done (I got a French Manicure for the Holidays) and my toe nails painted (not nearly as good as my sister does, but still), made dinner when I got home (new recipe for chicken cordon bleu casserole) and proceeded to bait my husband into a foul mood to end the evening. Ah, well...all-in-all a pretty good day.

I Am Grateful,
HB

Diva Quote: "Nothing helps a bad mood like spreading it around." Bill Watterson

Ah - that explains it...:)

Day #303 - Home Sweet Home

It was snowing when I got home tonight and I slid right past my drive way. It was kind of scary. I was being cautious, going slow and there goes my drive way. I JUST got new tires last year and I already feel like I need another set. Tomorrow I am going to get the tire pressure checked and have the tire place look at my treads...I can't imagine I need tires already.

I just got done listening to a book on tape called "Zero Limits". In this book one of the co-authors or main contributors talks about how everything has a name; like a chair is a chair, but it is also "Harry" or "Jill" or something. It sounds weird, but not as weird as me driving my car a week later and thinking "Suseal" over and over in my head. I tried to think of where I have recently heard that name, but can think of no reference, so I have decided "Suseal" is my cars name. I'm going to have a chat with Sue tomorrow morning about snow driving...she must do better and I need to be more diligent about using 4 wheel drive in the snow.

The book "Zero Limits" is REALLY is about the power of love, forgiveness and accountability if you are interested. Today I am just interested in having returned home with, not zero incidents, but close enough. There's no place like home!!

I Am Grateful,
HB

Diva Quote: "Home is a shelter from storms - all sorts of storms."  ~William J. Bennett

Day #302 - School Clothes

This weekend Travis and I went clothes shopping for him. He HATES shopping almost as much as I dislike it. It did remind me of shopping for school clothes, which I used to love. We would start out with a limit like everyone could pick out 2 pairs of pants, 3 shirts, 2 pairs of shoes, etc. and usually end up with more because Mom is Mom and we are her kids. It must have been very expensive to buy school clothes every year for 6 of us.

I remember one outfit very distinctly; not because it was super cool, but because it smelled funny...by 'funny' I mean gross, yucky, disgusting. It was a dark blue levi jumper - like culottes. I loved the way it looked, but I couldn't stand how it smelled funny. Even after washing it several times there was something wrong with that thing.

Anyway, we picked up 3 pairs of pants, 3 new shirts and 4 pairs of socks for Trav to wear to work. We went to only one store for all of it and then Trav was D O N E! No problem for me. I love how he is a quick and dirty shopper - "get in, get out and get on with your life" (whose slogan is that?).

I am glad we got it done since we have been talking about it for over a month. He is going to look great and it always feels so good to have new things to wear. That first day of school was ALL NEW, from the undies to the backpack and supplies inside...what a great day that always was. I hope Travis will feel new and improved tomorrow on the job.

I Am Grateful,
HB

Diva Quote: “Clothes and manners do not make the man; but, when he is made, they greatly improve his appearance.” Henry Ward Beecher

Day #301 - Picture Perfect

Rachael married Lin in September. Lin bought the house next door to ours one month after we moved into our home 2 years ago. We saw Lin go through 2 or 3 girlfriends since we've lived here and then he met Rachael - his soul mate. They actually seem to fit quite well with each other. They are both very earth friendly, active, outgoing, nature loving people. This is the first marriage for both of them and they are in their late 30's. I think it is going to go well for them.

Rachael invited me to her shower today, which was super sweet of her and I was excited to go so I could begin to get to know her better. The shower was a "Salvage Shower". The idea is to bring something for the bride from your own home that you no longer use or want. What a strange idea, but brilliant, in a way, and perfect for her.

It took me a while to decide what to give her. I think I mentioned before that when I moved here I got rid of most of my "stuff" or just didn't hang anything up. When I got back from our trip to Denver recently I went into my bedroom and asked Travis if we had been robbed - he said, "no, there was never anything on the walls." Oh, right. It was a weird feeling and since then I have been double thinking my minimalist strategy.

I decided on a set of sconces, that I have never been able to hang straight and therefore did not hang them up when we moved from the other house, and a beautiful coffee table book that I bought a long time ago in Jackson Hole or San Diego or, strangely, maybe Park City somewhere. Lin is a photographer, so I figure he can appreciate the composition and lighting, etc. and they do not own a TV (by choice) so I thought it would at least give them something to look at for 30 minutes.

The book is called "Windows to the World" by John & Debora Scanlan. I looked through the book last night to say 'Good Bye' and had a hard time deciding to let it go...so I took some picture of some of my favorite pages (sneaky, I know) here they are for your viewing pleasure:

I love the colorful, charming buildings & the incredible settings:

 My Personal Favorites - so tranquil:

How would it be to live at the bottom of this Mountain?



I took these so I can look at them once in a while; now I won't miss the book. I remember wanting to buy one of the photographs for my house, but the big ones were pretty pricey so I got the coffee table book instead. Some day I intend to buy a large photograph by Peter Lik to hang in my home...someday.

The shower was small and intimate, but I met 3 new ladies, saw a house that I love looking at from the street when I drive by it and RE-met the neighbor who moved in across the street just this Summer. Rachael said, "I think you have met Danny" and I said "no", Danny said, "yes, we've met", I said, "I don't think so." I have met her...TWICE. Once I realized who she was, I was astonished (and embarrassed) to note her hair is quite a bit darker then the last time we spoke - WAY DARKER...SCHWEW!!! At least I had that going for me!!! Brother - what a lunatic. Oh Well.

I Am Grateful,

HB

Diva Quote: "Memory itself is an internal rumour."  ~George Santayana

Day #300 - Whooot!

I'm breaking into the 300's...sweet.

It is that time of year that I have to work out the time to take the rest of my vacation days. For some reason my company changed the rules and we now have to utilize ALL our accrued vacation time or we lose it. Not even one day will transfer into the new year. I think this is pretty lame because if I take a vacation in January, I go into negative time...so dumb.

One of the perks of being employed by the same corporation for 15 years is the amount of vacation you accrue in a year. I get two days per month - 24 days; that is basically 5 weeks worth of paid vacation. We also have 12 paid holiday days and 2 personal days. I just figured out that is 304 hours of paid time off...Have I been complaining of all the hours I work? Let's see...52 weeks in the year x 5 x 8 is 2,080 hours, minus 304 hours paid vacation - so that leaves 1,776 hours worked per year. That's still a good chunk of hours, but it makes me glad to realize how many hours I get paid for NOT working.

Anyway, between now and December 31st I have 10 days to take. I can't complain...One thing I absolutely REFUSE to do is lose my earned vacation days!! Nothing bothers me more than someone NOT using an accrued paid day off. Tomorrow I am planning to clean the house in the morning and laze around all afternoon. Saturday will be the real Holiday since my chores will be done and Trav will be around for me to bother all day...SWEET!!

I Am Grateful,
HB

Diva Quote: "A vacation is having nothing to do and all day to do it in."  ~Robert Orben

Amen Brother!!

Day #299 - Pandora

I am just about "the old" person at work. Luckily I work with some Gen X's who told me about Pandora.com - I have been listening to my sister's blog music at work. The mix is pretty good and I have enjoyed it for quite a while. I started listening to CD's again and tried to make my own mix of music, but it never really works out. Well...on Pandora I can put in an artist "Regina Spector" and it will play 4 hours of "like" music. I am in love with it and so glad Kay & Carrie told me about it.

Today I heard several songs that I LOVE and didn't know the Artists name...it was pretty fun. I am stoked. It is hard to find the right kind of music to listen to quietly at the office. My office mates wear headphones while they do data entry, etc. but my phone rings too often for that, so I keep music on very low. If the song is a loud one, it turns into more than white noise; it becomes just noise. Pandora picks just the right kind of music when I put in the Artist - if you've never tried it, you should.

M - I would love it if you would make me a mix of your favorite exercise songs. I have an Ipod with 5 THOUSAND songs on it and have a hard time finding something I like while working out...sad, I know.

I Am Grateful,
HB

Diva Quote: ""If this is not what you expected, please alter your expectations." - Mark Morford