Hello Again!

Well, it is the end of April 15th (wait...the beginning of April 16th). Our office had an "end of busy season" party tonight. It was at a casino and we were all given a few chips to gamble away. As I was contemplating the choice I had to make (in my head conversation "Do i give the chips back? No that would be rude. Well is it wrong to gamble if someone gives me the chips? Wow, these chips are a lot heavier than I imagined. I guess I'll just put them in my purse and take them home? etc, etc" I overheard someone say they were just going to cash the chips in. AH HA!! So I just cashed my chips in and walked out of that party feeling pretty good. That cash is going to pay for the massage that I will arrange for next week. Way more relaxing than losing money.

So what now you ask? Well first, I'm going to attend a wedding, a graduation, and throw a bridal shower...all in the next week. But, I'm really looking forward to the week off and finally just relaxing, reading, letting myself see the sun, and hanging with my fam. Oh, also on the to do list is probably a blog with pictures...maybe Easter or something of that nature.

The Light!

What day is it? I'm not exactly sure at this point of accounting busy season...I just keep working. But I know that the end to busy season is near. And then I get a nice week long vacation with the family! Oh blessed PTO. Anyway, you should soon see increased blog activity. I should also be able to find all the time I've wanted to work on projects and read and sit in the sun, right? Probably not, but one can dream.

Uh...Emergency FHE!

Carson sang a new version of a classic children's song today. In his version, Old McDonald no longer owned the farm, Heavenly Father did. I guess it's not awful, but I don't think Heavenly Father and EIEIO belong in the same song.

He's Larious!

Carson is too funny lately. He does so many funny things that I feel like I can't possibly blog them all. He keeps our lives very entertained. It really would be a new story every day.

He's learned that it is fun to make people laugh. His techniques aren't quite refined yet, but the old standby of a dinosaur growl will usually make a 3 year old girl laugh. After he has gotten the response he wants, he'll usually turn to me and says "Mom, I'm funny." On Sunday I responded with a sarcastic "Yes, you're hilarious." He told me "I'm not larious mom, I'm funny."

He's very into pretending he is a dinosaur or a dragon. Half the time we play it starts with him saying "You be the dinosaur Mommy and I'll be the dragon." The other day I was getting ready in the morning. Carson was being a dinosaur. He came up to me and said "Turn around, Mommy, I'm gonna bite your bum." What the what?

Lately Karl and I have been playing this game to get Carson to eat his dinner. It involves us pretending a bunny is going to come eat his food so he better eat it fast. The other is me pretending my food is for the bunny and then getting "really upset" when Carson eats the food that was for the bunny. The "bunny" games have been working pretty well. The other morning we were playing this game with him. Karl said something like "Oh, the bunny just took a bite and then ran that way." Carson said "I'm gonna go get him." He then ran in the direction Karl had pointed and made a few chomping sounds. He then came back to the table and simply said "The Bunny's Dead." Talk about a back fire.

The other night he was upset he had to go to bed. He stomped up the stairs as he yelled "No fair!" I thought I had ten more years until I heard this. He must have seen someone do it. He's tried out the "no fair" comment a few more times. Luckily, it's starting to die down.

I was singing Staying Alive the other day. After I finished Carson created his own "mash-up" (Glee anyone?). He sang "Staying alive staying alive...Elmo's world."

His favorite new game is hide and seek. He doesn't quite get it yet, but he knows it involves hiding, finding, counting, and shouting "Remy or Not, Here I Come!" He usually combines those factors in any order when he requests hide and seek.

Say Ahhh!

Well - I just experienced another rite of passage...my first cavities. Three to be exact. When I found out about them at my dentist appointment (3 weeks ago), I was in denial. I just kept thinking that if I brushed really hard and flossed everyday until my filling appointment...the cavities would magically disappear. Well, unfortunately, my teeth aren't magic and I had to deal with the disappointment of learning that my teeth are not superhuman as I've always thought.

So appointment day came and I sat down in the seat. The dentist said "let's get you numbed up." It was at that moment that I realized I would be getting a shot...in the gums. Ahhhh. I wanted to say "Um, no let's not, I'm good with my cavities." Luckily, he numbed my gums with gel and then gave me the shot...didn't hurt a bit. By the time he got down to business I couldn't feel a thing. I was able to use the time to close my eyes and relax. An hour of forced laying down...not too bad.

I was fascinated by the assistant/dentist system. She anticipated his every move and kept a constant range of tools coming. Without saying a word, they would exchange tools over and over. I was smiling as I watched their fine tuned system and then I caught myself humming along to the overhead song, Barry White "Can't Get Enough of Your Love." Then I realized what a weirdo I was being and I laughed...actually laughed during my filling procedures. My jaw is craned open, I have some screw contraption attached to my tooth, the dentist is drilling away, and I'm smiling and humming Barry White. Weirdo.

After it was all said and done, they handed me a cup of Listerine to swish and spit out in the sink. Keep in mind that I have never had Novocaine lips before. I stood over the sink, took a swig of Listerine, and attempted to swish. It all just spit out of my mouth all over me. I couldn't help but laugh again. I tried one more time and tried to concentrate really hard on clenching my lips...but no, it just spittled everywhere. The assistant then chimes in "Oh, that happens all the time." I think she was trying to comfort me, but I thought "Really, you couldn't have warned me? C'mon!"

I had a replay of the spit event when I got home and tried to drink a glass of milk. I just kept quoting Airplane - he discusses the drinking problem he's had ever since the war. He then tries to drink a glass of water and pours it all over his face...ahhh ha ha ha. Drinking problem. Oh, ha ha.

And the moral of the story is...floss...or, try to remember that people can see and hear you so try not to be a weirdo all the time.

My Busy Season Outlet

While I have been working crazy hours, I've also found the increased need to find something to help me relax. How do I have time for an outlet you ask? I don't...sleep is suffering. But, if it keeps me a little bit less crazy, it's worth it. I love finding excuses to make projects. I don't know why I never make things for myself, but I think "oh, that person is having a baby" or "oh, that person is getting married", "now I have an excuse for a project."


Enter project - So this was my first non-rag quilt. It was also the first where I picked out all the fabric by myself. It was also the first time I ever bound a quilt (not needed on rag quilts). So let me tell you that I hate binding by hand and found that some people do it by machine. Of course, I didn't discover this till half way through my hand binding. Anyway - lesson learned for next time. But I think the quilt turned out really cute. I did a pretty easy pattern because I didn't want to overwhelm myself. I love the stripe on the back that ties it all together. I got the pattern from moda bake shop (I love this website!). It gives me way too many project ideas.

The Adventures of Me

I've been working a lot lately. Busy season has hit me full force and I'm pulling off some major hours. But I'm excited to be working and doing it well. I few weeks ago I was in Oregon for a audit. I actually really enjoy going up to Eugene. It's a bit of a hippie town - lots of Vegan restaurants, bikers everywhere, organic restaurants, etc, etc. You know, the things you never see in the valley. Well....maybe in Scottsdale. Anyway - I love the change in vibe. I kind of like the hippie feel. Not that I eat all organic or am a vegetarian, but it's fun to be around. The weather is pretty mild. It is close to the coast so while it can get cold, it usually isn't too bad and the snow fall usually only stays a day and then melts. I've heard it is gorgeous in the summers. It is called "The Emerald City." Unfortunately, the audit is in December and January...so I only get winters. The population is about the same as the town where I grew up...so that also feels comfortable to me.

Traveling for work can be good and bad. The first trip I had out of town, I think I enjoyed it a little too much. It was the first time I had ever had a hotel room all to myself. I could do anything I wanted at night. I stayed up late and watched TV. I kept the room spotless the whole week. I read till all hours of the night guilt free. After a few out of town trips, the freedom wore off a little and I began to miss my family sooner and sooner. I little trip every once in a while can still be nice though.

This last trip I took didn't give me as much free time at night. Since this is my second busy season, my work load is definitely heavier. So I would work out at the client's during the day and then go back to my hotel room and work some more. By Thursday night, I was going a little mad. I decided to not work for that last night and go do something instead. My hotel is right downtown and there are several cool looking places with in walking distance. So I walked and got dinner at one of my fav Eugene restaurants (Lucky Noodle) and I noticed there was a little movie theater across the street. I decided to go see a movie...by myself. This is actually the first time I have done this. 500 Days of Summer was playing and that was one I had wanted to see but Karl hadn't...perfect. I knew the movie must be close to coming to rent so I figured this must be a discount theater or something.

I walk in and it looks more like a little house than a theater. My ticket was $5. The man asked me if I would like to open a tab? He asked if I would be drinking tonight? He asked if I would like him to keep my credit card up front for my future alcohol purchases? No, No, and No. He then "cards" me in case I decide to drink later. I can say this is the first time I have ever been carded. There are people in the lobby, laughing and drinking wine. I stop to read the newspaper clippings that are framed on the wall. Light bulb - this is a theater/pub. Oh well, I can enjoy the theater part and ignore the pub part.

So then I ask where the theater is and he points to a little curtain...where am I? So I go through the curtain and just start laughing. I am in a room the size of my living room. There are six love seats and a few chairs in the "back row." There is a projector screen. I am the only person in the room. I help myself to the front row love seat and put my feet up on the coffee table. This could be fun. I love experiencing different things like this. At this point I take a sec to call Karl, take some pics on my cell phone and send them to him. We have a good laugh.

I got a second laugh when the "previews" ended and the 500 Days of Summer screen had a few options - "Play" "Scene Selection" "Language" Etc. Ha - this IS a DVD. By now there is another couple in the back. The man walks in and hits play. Let the movie begin!

So besides the occasional loudness coming from the lobby (on the other side of the curtain) as people just hung out and had a few beers, I really enjoyed my little night out at the theater/pub. And I think that Eugene is the exact place you'd find something like this. It was like having the comfort of your own home but being out on the town. My only wish was that Karl had been there too (aaahhh.)

Anyway, if you're ever in Eugene and want to visit a movie theater/pub, hit up the David Minor movie theater/pub. As far as movie theaters/pubs go, I highly recommend it.