Look Who I Ran Into!

I was walking across campus today and ran across Miss Judith who is graduating in May. Judith worked with us for a while and I must say she is one of the best and most lively story tellers I have ever met! I am so proud of her. She has worked really hard and really stuck with it. She was saying she wanted me at her graduation and I had to remind her that I don't do graduations. And she said, "Oh yeah. You do weddings." She was ready to laugh at that one sounding like there's no current plans. I always know someone who is graduating and it would be hard to go to every ceremony of every graduation. So a long time ago, I made the decision that for my close college friends that graduate, since they would be sharing with that with hundreds, that I would like to go to their wedding instead which would be just for them. I've been to some great weddings, by the way. Very special occasions!

Congratulations, Judith!

Daylight Savings Time Starts This Weekend

Hey, I'm ready for it! I don't do anything outside in the mornings except go to the car, drive to town, walk into work. I can do that with a flashlight, no problem. But I'm always excited when there's more "day" left when I get home!

We've Been Robbed of the Contest Prize!

Barrie entered her nursery in a regional Child Magazine contest for a special kids room/play room. When they were planning for Owen's arrival, Barrie was kind enough to let me help her with the nursery by letting me paint the mural. The mural depicts the homes of all the extended family. Well, we didn't win the contest. I consider myself a modest person but even I'll tell you in a heartbeat that the photos just don't do it justice. There's something special about standing in that room. I think we all must have inadvertently worked some spell and the magic lingers in the air like a whisp of smoke from grandpa's pipe. And you just don't feel it unless you're standing in the room. It's not the mural, it's not the bedding, etc. -- but something is afoot there! Maybe it's just that it's hard to photograph the love that fills the room. So, the entry was robbed of the prize which was a gift certificate for children's furniture and we can't wait to see what won!

Bike Messengers

(This is a post made 3-28-07 but I'm burying it in the past because it is actually from 2004 and just took a notion to move it closer to it's origin.) They make crazy look like a thing of beauty. Seeithere.

A Hopeful Chore

Saturday morning, I cleaned the junk out of the red car (92 Honday) in case the guy Gene was talking to came by to buy it. Ericka, Ashley, and Caroline -- you'll be glad to know that rolled up carpet is now out of there and I'll have ya'll know I'm doing a great job of keeping the new car free of junk! Well, except for the two "Model T One-Ton Truck" jacks I just put in there yesterday. I mean, it's not every day you come across those. Did you know that when you ordered a Model T truck, they usually only came with the bare chasis, tires/wheels, hood and firewall and the driver would just sit on the gas tank to deliver it? You built seats, truck beds, etc. on it like you wanted. Hey, I promise to get them out of the trunk tomorrow!!!! By the way, the guy never showed up to buy the red car.

Happy Anniversary

Happy Anniversary to my sister, Martha, and her husband, Joe, on their 40th wedding anniversary.

Good Friday

Well, we had to work that day and there wasn't a lot going on in the afternoon. However, Andrew did come by so we could see Lola. Hasn't she grown?

Baby Lola & Lola Now!

How Lucky Can You Get?

I decided I need to have more photos in my blog. So today, I share with you a snapshot of people I have the pleasure of working with. They are a joy. And this is just Thursday afternoon crew!

Lila, Ericka, Caroline, Amy and Andres

Kind of a Crazy Day Today

Started out this morning at a "Breakfast with the President" function at work. That was kind of interesting. And then a big office meeting with a consultant that's going to really make us more efficient, don't you know! A new student assistant started today, so throw some training in. And the consultant wanted some particular data, so I had to work on a report for several hours to generate that info. We did have a little lunch fiesta today. Even though Ashley doesn't work with us anymore, she's still family. So she went by and picked up MacKenzie's $5 for hamburgers-fries-drinks-on-Wednesdays for us and we all had lunch together. Was yummy and fun. "Get to know your neighbor time" (the last 15 minutes of the work day) was a bit mellow today. We did turn up the volume on the tunes, watched a few funny video clips on the computer, then shut things down. Except for Amy. She's driven ... worked right up to the end to complete her task. Then the fire alarm went off in the building which coincided right with quitting time. (False alarm, by the way.)

I hadn't been home but just a few minutes and someone knocked on our door which can make me jump out of my skin since we've only had about 10 people knock on our door the entire time we've lived here. Some guy had seen the red car ('92 Honda) sitting out there and wondered if we were interested in selling it. Since I got my new Corolla, we've certainly considered it. I had hoped we'd have the extra cash to get the Nissan worked on and Gene could drive the Honda while it was in the shop. But it hasn't worked out quite that way, so .... Gene's been out there talking to him for quite a while now. Wonder if the guy will buy it. Hmmm.

Yesterday Was Sooo Long!

Yesterday was one of those days when the afternoon lasted a week! I thought it would never be five o'clock! I was sooo sleepy. Finally made it home and was asleep by 7:15 and slept all night. I got to work early to get a good parking spot (they've fenced off a good portion for our new building!) and even caught a 15 minute nap before 8:00! Today went more smoothly. Five o'clock rolled around in record time and I was out of there and happy!

Squeezing In One More Movie This Weekend

Taxi
(2004) Queen Latifah and Jimmy Fallon star in a buddy movie. Not to be taken seriously, please, and if you do you'll miss some fun. After his years driving, Gene automatically likes any movie about taxis and what's not to like about a taxi so tricked-out it would be at home on any Nascar track. Fast paced and silly, Queen Latifah balances out Fallon's over-the-topness. And I really enjoyed Ann Margaret's performance as the mother. Yep, it was entertaining! Silly but fun.

"It's Offically Spring" Weekend's Movie Viewing

Flight of the Phoenix
(2004) Okay, let's overlook some logistical flaws here and there and just enjoy this "disparate group band together and overcome all odds" adventure movie. Looks like the $250,000 model was worth it for an amazing plane crash to get the story started! And by the way, Dennis Quaid is lookin' buff here.

Eulogy
(2004) Zooey Deschanel plays Kate who is to give the Eulogy at her grandfather's funeral. Not knowing what to say, she finds no assistance from the wacky and feckless adults in her life. Hank Azaria, Glenne Headly, Famke Janssen, Piper Laurie, Kelly Preston, Ray Romano, and Rip Torn all do a fantastic job.

By the way, everyone does not love Ray this time around. Ray Ramano is at his most believable as smarmy Uncle Skip. His twin boys are real potty mouths and generally offensive. At first, their mere existence seems only a vehicle for lewd one-liners. But they serve to make Uncle Skip even more smarmy. Not only does he allow their wanton behavior, Skipper even joins them in the closet to spy on his sister and her lesbian lover.

One smarmy sibling is plenty and the rest are just wacky. Even with great portrayals by seasoned actors, I found myself wanting a more developed story. Still worth a watch just to be entertained, though.

The Big Fix
(1978) Richard Dreyfuss is private investigator Moses Wine. I guess I saw this at the cinema when it came out in 1978, but I always remembered it as being a great movie. And I was right! The advice he gives his sons about remaining inconspicuous when tailing someone always stuck with me. Actually, I remembered enough of this movie to fill in all the missing subtleties while watching it on fuzzy tv tonight.

And if I can remember that much of a movie, it must have made an impression on me! Just ask Gene. haha. That's one of the reasons I started recording what I watch in a movie blog. I just can't remember which movies I've seen!

I'm Feeling Better!

I'm actually starting to feel better! Expect to hear from me more. I tried to post over the last couple weeks, but just had nothing to say. Was just too busy hacking and coughing.

Spent an exciting morning taking my car to the nearest dealership for an oil change. The "new" car has more than 10K on it now. Too bad going to the nearest dealership means an hour drive to the city. But got my "first oil change at original dealership" benefit even though the actual first oil change was in another town.

Still the Best Diet Coke in East Texas

It's at the Burger King drive-thru at the intersection of 59 & 105 in Cleveland. Yum!

Finally Saw a Couple Movies

Into the Sun
A typical Steven Seagal vehicle. There were some things to like even though the plot wasn't one of them. Beautiful gardens, furniture, interesting Japanese actors. And when Seagal opens that can of whup-ass, it's always fun to watch him in action. I probably wouldn't watch it again, but it helped pass the time.

I Heart Huckabees
A movie that begs to answer the question, "How am I not myself?" Billed as an existential comedy, it stars Lily Tomlin, Dustin Hoffman, Jason Schwartzman, Jude Law, Mark Wahlberg and Naomi Watts. (Gene spotted a young Jake Hoffman as a parking valet.) Existential detectives, absurdist humor, meaningful or meaningless, you'd have to agree it was a well done movie whether you like it or not.

Been fighting the crud

Official word. I definitely got sick. On the upswing now. I should be back to posting regularly very soon.

Fighting a Cold

I for sure developed my very own case of the crud. Think it is just a sinus infection kind of thing. Hope so as I am visiting friends this weekend. How mean would that be to bring cooties into their home with two small children? Barrie and I just got back from the Dallas Home and Garden Show. Some interesting things to see, but if I saw one more hot tub or hot tub enclosure, or foundation repair booth ... don't know what I would do. haha. Cade was a good sport and rode in her stroller waving at people. Let me tell you, the child wakes up waving! What a cutie!

Please, Nooooo!

I've got a little scratchy throat today. Gene has been so sick and it started with a sore throat. I sure hope I'm not getting what he's got!!!