...a little of this and a little of that

Obviously, I have not been blogging much lately. Here's what's been going on:

1. School...that's a given. Moving on. Oh, wait! My students created photo essays using the Photo Story program. (My technology goal...and once I taught them the basics, they took off with it and were teaching ME how to do things!) When the essays were finished we had a showing in the classroom for parents and siblings. Five pizzas were gone in no time and we had a wonderful time!
   
2. Riding my bike. We're having unseasonably warm and sunny weather for February, so every chance I get I'm on my bike. Ahhh...
   
3. A date with Katie--both of us drove 1 1/2 hours on Sunday to meet in the middle. We had a great gabfest, oohed and ahhed over each other's hair cut, and parted way too soon. But we'll see each other during Spring Break, which is just around the corner.
   
4. I've tossed around the idea of getting a degree in counseling for a while now. Just yesterday I took the plunge and made an appointment to fill out the necessary paperwork. Gulp. The program starts in the fall, classes are only 45 minutes away, and...they are only held on the weekends. Friday evenings, all day Saturday, most of the day Sunday. For a year and a half. Double gulp. Can I do it? Do I want to do it? I was 15 years younger the last time I worked and went to school. But...the seed of an idea has taken hold and I need to follow through.
   
5. My cousin Jenn just contacted me recently on Facebook. I was 15 when she was born so we never really knew each other. A few years ago we started exchanging emails, then...? Who knows why we stopped? I'm glad for the chance to reconnect with her.
   
6. My sister Arlene is taking vacation days during my spring break. We're taking a road trip to Portland together to see Katie and do some shopping. (Not the usual kind of shopping. No, we'll be going to exciting places like Penzey's Spices, Trader Joe's, and Saturday Market!) I can't wait!


7. Nate is coming to spend a day with me Monday. (I'm taking a personal day.) He considered coming last Sunday with Katie, but we needed girl time. It will be good to catch up with him too. He's borrowing my little truck for a bit--he and his roommates are giving up their big old rental house and going their separate ways. A good change for him--he's tired of living in a house with multiple people, one bathroom, and no one willing to clean on a semi-regular basis. Friendships are intact, as far as I can tell--just time for a change.
   
8. Twenty-some years ago I made a book bag for myself. When Katie went off to college she nabbed it for her own and used it. And used it. Until it was worn out. (One cannot see the handles in this picture--they are in shreds!)
9. On Sunday she gave it back to me. "Mama, please make me another one!" I don't have the pattern any more, so will be taking this old one apart and using it to make a new one. Time to start ripping.

**Update: Two new bags--one for Katie because she requested it and one for Arlene, just because. I am guilty of feeding the addiction of my two favorite bag ladies. :-)

...23 years ago

Twenty-three years ago a sweet baby girl chose me as her mama.

I'm so glad she did!

Happy Birthday, Katie!

...gingerbread houses

When the kids were small one of our Christmas traditions was to make a gingerbread house. Somewhere around the teenage years when sports ruled our lives, spending time and money on this activity somehow lost their appeal. Last night Katie and I were at loose ends--shopping and wrapping complete, friends too busy to socialize--what to do, what to do...

We popped in "Elf," scrounged around for gingerbread house building materials, poured a little wine, and....voila! Not quite as elaborate as they used to be, but they turned out pretty cute, all the same. A delightful evening.

...a trip to Seattle

Katie and I have been incredibly busy this fall--she, with classes and work, I, with...that place I vowed not to think about for several days. And since we live 3 hours from each other, insane busy-ness means that months go by before we get to spend time with each other. So we planned a weekend getaway to kick off our Christmas vacation. She wanted to get out of Portland, and I wanted to get out of Dodge. It didn't take us long to agree--Seattle it was.

We got in late Friday night, walked throught a questionable neighborhood to see the Space Needle all lighted up,

got up early Saturday and spent a fun, fun day seeing the sights,

shopping,

and enjoying each other's company.

This may just become a new tradition!

It was Katie's first time up to the top of the Space Needle, but it was so foggy that there was nothing to see. Did that stop us from having a good time? Not in the least.

Dear Santa, Please tell mom that I really, really, really like those boots!

Accapella singers and little children busting out the moves.

The "gum wall" at Pike Street Market. Ew.

...my blogging anniversary

September 20, 2008 is the date of my very first post on this blog. I had intended to write an anniversary post on that date this year, but...yeah...my life is a little bit crazy right now. In the past year I've written random thoughts, dreams, goals and complaints, whined too much, celebrated good times, said goodbye to a loved one, shared lots and lots of pictures, talked about my love affair with a certain bicycle, and in the process connected with friends and family. (Well, some family--my mom never remembers that I have a blog!) A few of my readers post comments; most don't. I do get emails from a handful and am always glad they stopped by. And there are probably a few lurkers out there who might eventually speak up. If they don't--no worries. (I've been a lurker myself from time to time and either felt enough of a connection to leave a comment or stopped checking in. The day I recognized someone in the grocery store from her blog was a bit disconcerting! And was it my imagination, or did she have a moment of {Who is that?} as well?)

My very first post had a picture of Katie and me. So in celebration of the anniversary, here's the latest of the two of us,

taken this past weekend. Blogging has been great fun--I haven't written this much in many years. (I wonder if there is a way to save all my errant thoughts to a file?)

...a rebus story

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that he illustrated to be published.

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you !!!!

...laughter

We went to our favorite little place on Hawthorne Street,ate delicious happy hour food (sweet potato fries, yum!),met Zachary,walked along the street admiring the beautiful flowers,and laughed.

...the up escalator

(No, of course this wasn't a camera malfunction....it's art! haha)