Friday, April 18, 2008

Charli & The Fairies (aka Boffo Oregon Folks #2)

Our next door neighbors (Mike & Juli) have a 9 year old girl, Charli. The kind of girl that makes you reconsider not having children. ;) She has a purple bike with flowers and she likes to use the port-a-potties stationed around the neighborhood (for the construction crews). She is very outgoing and Molly loves her.

Yesterday, she showed me the fairy land she built in the empty lots across the street from us. She also told me about her future expansion plans for the fairies' home and hoped that they would like it one day.

So....I got to work last night building a fairy "kit".



















And while she was at school, we got busy leaving treasures for Charlie to find in the boy fairy area....









the girl fairy area...




(she made the leaf beds)

leading to her front porch...























and on the front porch....


















I watched from the office window as she discovered the surprises in the fairy land. She was jumping up and down and screaming for her dad who was on his way over to see (he helped her build the land a couple of days ago).

Malcolm's over there helping her dad dig out the backyard and when I went over...she came running to me, showing me everything. She told me that she knew the fairies had really come because they had left behind fairy dust.

Her dad told her, "see...you should always believe in your dreams."

Swooooooon.

p.s. "I think that people who can't believe in fairies aren't worth knowing." ~Tori Amos

p.p.s. very special thanks to dancing mermaid...maker of magic and an inspiration and muse to many.

Friday, April 11, 2008

Bye Bye Corporate World

And I thought working in my pjs was the *best* part of having my own business and working from home....




















"isn't she pretty in pink....?" :)

The Office

Welcome back, The Office.

I didn't know I could love imaginary people as much as I love these folks. Lots of high fives and "oh my god - that is so _____ (you or friend x or family member y)" going on in our house during last night's episode, Dinner Party.

Best line from last night: "You have no idea the physical toll that three vasectomies have on a person!"

The Office is definitely not for everybody...but if it's for you...well, then...you're for me. Just don't try to lick my ice cream cone. :)

Monday, April 7, 2008

Hundreds of Things

Find yourself a cup of tea; the teapot is behind you.
Now tell me about hundreds of things. ~Saki

1., 2. and 3. This little turquoise teapot makes me smile. I got it at Target yesterday. I felt guilty about buying it.

4. I can't get enough of http://stuffwhitepeoplelike.wordpress.com/.

5. I like the rainy days in Oregon.

6. I'm scared of bees.

7. I can't believe I've been married for almost 10 years.

8. I really can't believe my dad has been dead for almost 20 years.

9. My favorite/lucky number is 9.

10. I don't like even numbers.

11. I can't stop biting my nails.

12. I crave acknowledgement.

13. Sometimes I forget how much I love to watch clouds.

14. I'm scared about the future.

15. I can't believe I'll be 40 next year.

16. I'm hooked on the Price is Right.

17. I don't know if I'll ever lose weight.

18. I sometimes wonder about my finding my birthfather.

19. I hope to swim with a dolphin someday.

20. I don't want to travel outside of the U.S. because I don't want people to know I'm an "American".

21. My Molly pup is the cutest thing ever. http://mollypups.blogspot.com/

22. Sometimes I want a kid (not a baby, a kid).

23. I'm forever grateful to Julie for introducing me to the Landmark Forum. http://www.landmarkeducation.com/

24. One of my dreams is to live right on the beach.

25. I'm pretty sure Malcolm and I knew each other in a previous life.

26. My books are like my babies.

27. I wonder if my birthmother thinks about me.

28. Sometimes I laugh about the things I've "been through".

29., 30. My mom is like my best friend and sometimes I want to smack her one.

31. I wish I knew then what I know now.

32. I used to be a poet.

33., 34. I've never even tried marijuana but I can quote a number of Cheech & Chong movies at you.

35. The salt and the lime is sometimes the best part of the margarita.

36. I swam naked in the Gulf of Mexico.

37. I have a tattoo of a shooting star on the inside of my left ankle.

38., 39., 40. When people ask, I always say I have four older brothers. Even though one died when I was barely 3 and one I'll never speak to again.

41. I've finally accepted my curly hair.

42. I often forget that I don't need a reason to wear glitter.

43., 44. I've marched in gay pride parades. I'm not gay.

45. White daisies are better than roses.

46. I also like the number 11.

47. Nothing beats a bubble bath with a good book.

48. Sometimes I feel like it's my job to make people laugh.

49. San Francisco is one of my favorite places in the world.

50., 51. It's very important to me to do a good job (and be acknowledged for it).

52. Sometimes I cry about the things I've "been through".

53. I was a Jesus Freak in junior high.

54., 55. 13 years of Lutheran/Christian education left me religiously rebellious and confused.

56. It's hard to not take things personally.

56. 57. Two of my best friends go by the names of Lunchy and Knoxy.

58. I met my husband in an AOL chatroom.

59., 60. I am a champion for transformation and I practice unshakeable confidence.

61., 62. I *love* to swim but I won't wear a bathing suit in public.

63. I've almost gotten into fights at two different Barenaked Ladies concerts.

64. I don't question Malcolm's love for me.

65. It hurts my heart when Molly whimpers in her sleep.

66. I can almost sing all of Baby Got Back at karaoke without running out of breath.

67. I almost quit my job last year when my boss told me I couldn't leave early to go see the Foo Fighters with Knoxy in a dive bar in the valley.

68. We met Dave Grohl that night.

69. I can't say 69 without also saying "dude".

70. I'd rather be cold than hot.

71. I'm surprisingly good at Guitar Hero.

72. I usually work in my pajamas these days.

73. I'm finally doing work I love.

74. I have no idea who I'll vote for in November.

75. My hair is growing gray very rapidly.

76. I've been thinking about giving up meat.

77. Guilt runs me sometimes.

78. Rainbows make me squeal with excitement.

79. It feels wrong to not honk when going through a tunnel.

80. Weeping willow trees always make me think of my Grandma Ada.

81., 82. Oprah's Big Give Show makes me cry and makes me mad in the same hour.

83., 84. I forget that compared to others in this world, I have nothing to complain about and nothing to worry about.

85. My pink cowgirl boots make me so happy.

86., 87. I get obsessed with getting the gifts with purchases (and then never use them - like the Clinique ones).

88. How can it be 21 years since I graduated from high school?

89. I miss the little boy my nephew Christopher was.

90. It took me 12 years to finish my 4 year degree.

91., 92. I love surprises but I *hate* knowing that a surprise is coming.

93. I'm a good gift giver.

94. Bad customer service makes me cranky.

95. I always seem to end up sitting next to talkers at the movies.

96. I never learned how to drive stick shift.

97. The summer I was 16 was probably the best summer of my life.

98. I'm a good speller.

99. One of my dreams is to have a pink or teal green bike with a basket.

100. I hope to see the Aurora Borealis before I die.

101. In the cuteness contest, pandas always win.

You? (not necessarily a hundred - it was really hard) :)

Thursday, April 3, 2008

Staples Out...I'm Back Baby!

I got the staples removed from my back today. I was deathly afraid that it was going to hurt so bad. I planned to be gone for hours. I thought they would knock me out or give me something major to ease the pain. I thought I would be fully undressed, in a butt baring gown and face down in a cold, sterile room. I was ready to ~ okay, not go fully towards the light but maybe have a teensy out of body experience.

Nah.


I hitched down my pants a little, bent over the examining table and looked out the window while the physician's assistant plucked them out with a glorified staple remover.


















Anyway, I'm doing good and it's not itching as bad it had been. I hardly have any swelling or redness; it's healing nicely and I start physical therapy next week. And I am in very minimal pain. Thank you, Dr. Keiper!!


We went to the mall afterward (I hadn't been out of the house in over a week) and I fully treated myself.



Super cute shirt from Torrid ~ suitable for Malcolm's Guitar Hero birthday party next weekend and for the Foos in Portland in July with my sisters from other misters. A new journal and a pack of 24 markers. The Eckhart Tolle book so I can jump on the Oprah bandwagon ~ oh, I mean "awaken to my life's purpose". :) And a bunch of jangly silver bracelets.

I feel more like myself right now than I have in months.