It was one of those weekends, busy from Friday night to Sunday night.
Not busy with the laundry (which is waiting) or with the garden (which is parched) or house keeping (boy howdy) but with friends. It is a weekend I would have dreamt of in Jr. High, that when I grew up I would have soooo many friends to play with since my sister and my cousins all had so many and I had o-n-e. And sometimes not even her.

Friday night Albert, his son Taze and the poodle Bentley came over. We grilled and hung out on the deck chatting while Taze swam and practiced his diving in the pool. Missy and Bentley played nicely and they were a kick to watch. They left around 11pm and I went to bed.

here is Bentley looking for Taze sneaking by.

Saturday Katherine and Sophie came over and we took the girls to the dog park to play around and we watched Sophie chase dragon flys around in circles. After we took the dogs back to my house Katherine and I headed out to go shopping and get pedicures. The pedicures were very lovely and I have two new fantastic pair of shoes, one of which I am wearing today. After we got back home and they took off my sister Della came over and we went out to dinner and then did a fair amount of laughing at ourselves and sitting around.

Sunday Della and I went to look for a new table and chairs for my deck, this was quite an adventure. We headed for Sears first and they were not open yet so we went to Panera for breakfast and coffee, then to Home Depot. I just don’t like the molded aluminum pieces although there was a couch set there that was pretty nice. There was one wood table with six chairs, dark stained wood and it was FSC certified wood, so that was a huge plus. We went back to Sears just to check but ended up back at Home Depot to buy the floor model. This is where the hilariousness of the day really set it. The help at Home Depot was laughable if anything. I took the table tent to the checkout and officially bought the table. Our “help” was a very nice, mentally challenged girl who really couldn’t help us much. As Della and I carried the table out because the girl couldn’t find tools to help take it apart, she was to stand watch over our chairs. We got stopped on the way out (so at least I know someone was watching) I showed them the receipt and we continued out with the table. Lo and behold, our girl helping, the one to stay and watch the chairs she was right there with us as well. We stuffed the dog beds and gear into the king cab (oh where it still is by the way) and put the table in upside down in the truck. Me and the helper went back in for the chairs. She had two each on carts so we rolled them out, it would have been just as easy to carry two chairs but whatever. I got the four chairs in the back and two people came out with the last two on yet a third cart. I told them they wouldn’t fit and I instead of telling them to take them back in and we would come back for them I made the mistake of asking. I said “do you think we can just take those two chairs back in and I’ll run this stuff home and come back for them” to which the guy answered “probably”…..”PROBABLY, what should I just leave my sister here in the parking lot with them” was my reply. He laughed and said we’ll I’ll give her a bottle of water. They wanted me to take them back into will call and fill out paperwork to have them hold. I said no, the girl right inside the door knows I bought them as she just checked my receipt. Take them back into her, we’ll be right back. Cracking up the whole way home we then unloaded the table and four chairs and headed back. Walked in and so sweetly it couldn’t have been me, we just picked up the chairs and said thanks and left.

The only thing to surpass all that laughter about the table was the trip following it to Fred Meyer. After we got a few things to round out the grilling that was going to happen later and got in line in the short 12 items or less line and were amusing ourselves probably discussing the crazy table story and the guy in front of us turns and says “they are closing this line after us”, my reply was “how would you know that” in a weird sing songy voice cause really how would he know. His reply as he stepped aside was “cause I’m standing in front of the sign”. This sent us into even more laughter as we changed lanes.

Back home we went, marinated the chicken and then sat at the new table outside in the sun playing cribbage. Not as many people came over as were invited. Sam and Leslie had double booked, Kim went on a hike instead, and I didn’t hear from the others invited. But Mary and Mercy showed and they swam while Della and I grilled and hung out. After everyone ate and Della went home Julie came by and the four of us swam for another couple hours. The pool was at least 80 if not 85 and since it was only 79 outside at the warmest part of the day the pool was warmer then the air. It was divine. We threw water toys back and forth in a dodge ball sort of game and I got clucked right in the forehead it made me laugh so hard I had to get out of the pool and go inside to pee. There was also a noodle fight and just lots of lolly-gagging around in the water

Everyone cleared out about 8ish and I loaded dishes and flopped on the couch for a little mindless tv.

So this week is now layed out to make up for all the fun and cavorting about. There is grocery shopping to do, laundry to do, watering to do, a pool to vacuum out, mowing by mid week. Saturday is the torch light parade so that day is booked from morning to night already. Perhaps if I can get the above list done before then (HA), I can spend Sunday reading a book in the swing.

I went to Furney’s Nursery a few weeks ago and bought some perennials that were all on sale 20% off.
Actually I planted this when I got these plants so there are already weeds in the bed.

The pictures are not that great as it was super bright this morning when taking them with the cell phone. However from the outer fence in here is the line up for the newly dug bed.

Abelia (Kaleidoscope) great variegated foliage in yellow’s orange and green. Should have white flowers but I don’t actually know when it blooms (probably spring). I gave it a lot of room as it should get to be 4 x 4.

Next to that you can see a Jacob’s Ladder it is the “Stairway to Heaven” variety.

Then I put in two little Rhubarb plants I got that were also 20% off.

Next went in a Gaura, this should get to 3 x 3 feet and is already doing better then the two in the front of the house that don’t get as much sun. It really is a sweet looking plant already just kind of washed out in this photo.

I was very happy to find a Pentemon (red flowered in photo) and it has already been bringing more hummingbirds into the yard.

Next up is another Jacobs Ladder, this one is not varigated and is already covered in purple blooms.
Then a sweet pink Flox (green mound in forefront) I am hoping it will spread over this narrow end of the bed and even onto the concrete.

This narrow piece of the bed I put a lavender plant at either end and strawberries in the middle.

I haven’t really talked about my newest shift.  I was trying to get down a routine and accept that I am working 11 to 7 for the entire summer.  There are so many sucky parts of this shift I could blog about.  For instance by the time I get off work each day and get home to change and let out the Missy there isn’t much time left for going out with friends, for going to a movie (only came on once to be honest), only a couple hours to try and get anything done before going to bed.  Mornings are also stretched thin and weeks like this one where on Tuesday I pretty much already have stuff scheduled for the weekend I really need to get the watering/weeding/mowing/scrubbing/vacuuming/cleaning/shopping/laundry done before the weekend gets here.

If however I spend the entire weekend doing the ‘chores’ (which we already know I love and dont consider them an actual chore) then the week can be pretty lax.  Giving mornings up to a leisurely waking, a good 60-90 minutes working out.  A good breakfast and making a healthy lunch while catching a little Regis and Kelly before showering and leaving for work.

However, today so far went like this: Up at 6:30 dressed, Missy fed and watered before working out at 7:00 to 8:00, watering of veggie garden and mowing of side and front yards between 8:00 to 9:00.  Eating Kashi while standing at counter making salad for lunch and jumping in the shower and dressing for work to leave by 10:00 because there were already traffic jams due to the 50,000 Boeing machinist heading to Key Arena for a Pre-Strike vote.  Tonight includes more watering and mowing of the back yard, hopefully a load of swim towels from last Sunday and perhaps vacuuming.  Oh wait, I did spray the shower down this morning after I got out of it so really I need to scrub that too.

It is weird to say I didn’t even get to bed until 11:00 pm last night (as I was watching the All-Star game) when until February I was never even off work by then. 

I do think this year is all about job challenges for me.  With being the only one left and changing from 2nd to 1st after a decade.  To being laid off and shocked and let down.  The underlying number it did on my self esteem and self worth even though I try not to define my life by my job I had been there for 17 years.  To finding this new job, being the newest employee, new procedures, new personalities, new challenges, pay cut and of course the ever changing shift.   I am also getting to now deal with the rolling over of my 401K and the choices and decisions in that and the woeful feeling of being un-educated in that department.

This weekend is looking good already.  Dog parking and shopping on Saturday.  People over to swim and probably grill on Sunday.  So I have lots to get done, crammed into before and after work to allow time for all the playing this weekend.  Doesn’t really sound like anything to complain about does it!

I started watering the gardens before 7:30 a.m. and then most of the day was spent eradicating the dahlia’s. The weeds, mostly buttercups had completely taken over this bed. This bed seems to get least amount of attention but hopefully will be easier to keep up now.

Oh there was a nice walk in the woods with Jaq today also.

Well its here. Twice as fast and Half as much, or so the endless adds in my email box say.
With fast 3G wireless technology, GPS mapping, it combines three products in one — a revolutionary phone, a widescreen iPod, and a breakthrough Internet device with rich HTML email and a desktop-class web browser.

Apple has been sending me demo’s and emails of the iphone in my email for weeks. As much as I would love to have this shiney new phone from Apple (cause I love my MAC and my ipod) I would want a different carrier and that’s not possible. Since I signed a contract when I got my new phone and I really have no complaints about T-Mobile. Besides I would have NO service at Chari’s since when she had the AT&T/Cingular carrier they closed down the tower near her house cause “it stopped working” They did let her out of the contract without and penalty’s however.

Katherine mentioned getting one when we went to dinner recently, I am very excited for her. Mike at work is also getting one as his girlfriend had one of the “old” ones. I laughed and said its only a “year” old.

I will just have to keep getting my music on my ipod, stereo or “other” phone, my safari on my macbook or browse the Internet on my “other” phone and take my pictures with my digital camera or “other” phone. I just wont have the slick new phone/computer/ipod/camera with touch screen and will have to keep pushing buttons. I am excited to see Katherine’s and Mike’s new iPhones.

Title about covers it……however to expand.  Missy was already in love with Jessica but after Tuesday I must say I love the dog walker as well.  Jessica and all the dogs signed a card for Missy. Left it on Tuesday with a new toy (above) and a bag of chicken strip treats.  (you can see all the dogs have great penmanship and each used a different colored pen even) 

I had left a note for Jessica Tuesday morning that she didn’t need to stop her all together from playing this week but when she was going full tilt to distract her, break her focus so she could get a little rest. Jessica left a note back saying Missy played hard but she did leashed her a couple times just to slow her down.

She takes such good care of the dogs and evened text’d me over the weekend to check on Missy.

Missy is feeling much better for everyone who emailed and asked, you would never know that a week ago today she had to skip her park visit with her friends.

Lots of painting. A little texture experimenting, then re-painting. A couple movies. Dinner with family. Dinner out. Wimbledon, amazing, nerve racking final. More about weekend later but here are the pictures of the painting. (oh and I had an In & Out burger)!

UPDATE: What a fun weekend.  I flew down to Sacramento on Thursday after work.  Barely making the flight due to traffic getting home.  Chari and I went out to dinner when I got there and although Kris was going to join us it was very nice to just have dinner out together.

Friday (the fourth) there was not a lot of “Independence” day celebrations, a lot of paint discussion on color and then going to get the paint.  There was a burger and shared fries from In & Out burger and I guess that is the closest we got to typical fourth “holiday” food.  We painted and got the first coat up on Friday.  Exhausted from probably the heat more then the painting we settled in to watch “Vantage Point” and discuss the possibility of texturizing the paint.

Saturday we went back to get the trim paint (after bringing home paint swatches to try and match the existing trim and ceiling) also got a slightly differing color to rag roll on texture.  The rest of Saturday was spent putting two coats of paint on the trim and a second coat on the walls.  There were also some tests with the texture and we decided the flat Terracotta color was best.

The painting was finished up and all the furniture returned to its positions with just enough time to shower up and make dinner for Aunt Barb and Brother Steve to come over for Turkey Taco salad’s.  After they left a quick trip to Brocks for ice cream and back home to watch “Michael Clayton”

Sunday there was lots of lounging around the living room admiring the paint job.  Olympic trials to watch and the last couple sets of the Federer-Nadal Wimbledon Finals.  That was a fantastic tennis match.  One that will go down in history for various reasons.

I was excited last night I got off work 90 minutes early. Had plans of watering and mowing when I got home. Always a list of things to get done and a free 90 minutes is like a gold mine.

Instead I got home to a note from the dog walker, along with the usual we had a good time it said FYI while we were walking to the car to leave Missy was going slower than usual. I can’t tell if she’s favoring her right front foot.

Well there was no Missy to greet me. In fact no sound of her at all. I called and went to the steps and called, not knowing if she was upstairs or downstairs and I heard her collar she came crawling out from under my bed and yelped.

I spent lots of time bending every joint, looking for thorns, cuts, anything swollen. I could not find anything but I did get big yelps out of her when petting or touching her right side. I went to the store and bought baby aspirin, thinking if it was a sprain then there may be swelling and either way this may take away some pain. After the aspirin the panting through pain slowed down a little.

Last night we didn’t sleep much, every time she got up or layed down or shifted she would cry out. I can only equate the feeling to a parent who’s infant is fed and dry yet won’t stop crying and having no idea what is wrong.

So first thing this morning we made a vet appointment 8:45 was the first one available and we were there.

The wonderful vet Stacy checked her out and thinks she sprained her neck. It is hot to the touch but cant really tell if its swollen cause Missy is so fluffy. It seems stiff and she yelps whenever she gets up or lays down and Vet-Stacy thinks the sprain is pinching a nerve in her shoulder probably feels to us what a pulled or torn rotator cuff would feel like. They lifted her tail and Missy yelped so loud, they think it was just from turning to look at them. (I think she just didn’t want the thermometer up her bumm)

Missy is on anti-inflammatorys for a week and pain killers for the next couple days. She should be just fine but if she is still having problems after that they will want to anesthetize her and take X-rays.

Poor thing, I am hoping she is at home resting thanks to the drugs and I am drinking lots of caffeine to stay awake at work. I have to say, three days into this schedule 11am to 7pm (That Charla so eloquently described as straddling the shit line) I was thankful for the shift that it worked for taking her to the vet.

Is this the saddest photo ever.  I am out of town this weekend so I don’t want to buy a lot of produce before then and tomatoes and cucumbers although planted in the garden are not ANYWHERE near bearing fruit. 

Dinner tonight is questionable bag of salad greens, a few organics from Freddies and I have dinner.  Freddies is getting better with the organic vegetables.  The selection is getting more and more but they don’t buy in bulk and I think more people are buying organic so they go quickly.  At least I can buy just one or two tomatoes or (nectarines this weekend - YUM) instead of a PLASTIC clam shell of 4 that i can’t really even check out at Trader Joes.  Now I’m not completely dissing TJ’s and I do the majority of my shopping there but really to buy a tomato a cucumber and an avocado there.

I went up to Freddies last night for gas, I was only on 1/2 tank but the rest of Christine Gregoires 9.5 cent a gallon gas tax went into affect this morning so I figured last night was as good a time as any to top of the petrol.  Besides with my Freddies card I can get up to 10 cents a gallon off so I was able to get gas last night at $4.19. 

I managed just over 1 tank of gas for June, by driving only to the park and ride, dog park, Trader Joes and a couple places like dinner and movie on the weekends.  Taking the bus did also cost $81.00 bucks for the month but hey at these prices that is only 1 tank of gas.

However, my schedule is now 11-7 for the next three months.  I will be driving not busing.  It takes just over an hour round trip to drive.  The bus takes 90 min each way.  Do I even need to explain why I’m driving???