Tagged by three freinds on LJ...

A. List seven habits/quirks/facts about yourself.
B. Tag seven people to do the same.
C. Do not tag the person who tagged you or say that you tag "whoever wants to do it.

1)I like to watch Dr Who. Yes, even the one at 12:00 midnight on PBS.

2) I love being a 'fan'. Witness my Star Wars, Harry Potter, Firefly, and other fascinations. I'm not obsessed, I'm focused.

3) I love to dress up--Halloween is the only day I could get away with it before I discovered Renaissance Faires.

4)(this may be in the TMI category, be warned) Having been an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints all my life, and never married, yes, I am still a virgin. No, that's not a plea for someone to change my status.

5)I never served a mission for my church. It's amazing how many people think I have just because I not married (since I didn't marry, I must have served a mission? Oh brother).

6)I have a Master's degree in Astrophysics. I believe this is one of two reasons why I'm not married (see number 4 for the other reason--science and religion don't mix well in the minds of possible suitors).

7) I have a lot of dolls. Including several Star Wars 12-inch dolls, and several Barbie Princess dolls. My latest aquisition is a baby doll with a breathing mechanism in it. I love to hold my breathing doll. I know, I know, TMI.

As for who to tag... hmmm, I tagged three people on LJ, so here I'm going to tag Joni, Mendy, Kellie, and Cami (had to leave them all someone to tag!)

So Faire!

Went to MDRF on Saturday, and it was so fun! I actually overslept so I missed the first Fight School and Super Stupina, but I ran into my friends the Ravenwolves Clan almost immediately and we hung around together all day. They are the Best Family Faire-ever! (Those who came to my housewarming party got to meet all but Lady Ravenwolves and the oldest son)

We wandered around the grounds for the most part, stopping for quite a while to talk to Amras the Squirrel King and have some lunch. It was So Hot. Lots and lots of water to be drunk. Switched to Lemonade around 4:00pm or so, though, when my persperation started tasting a lot like the water I was drinking. However, it was so nice to hang with them and see so many of our faire friends.

There are some new shops at the festival this year. A Master Weaver has set up shop there, with clothing and capes and things. She names her patterns--Shady Grove, Cardinal, Peacock, and several more. You can guess what the colors are like. I'm defnintely getting some, and at least one skirt/top/vest combination that I could wear to church it's so nice. Another new place is a drum and flute place, where you can get a small drum to hang on your belt, or a timbre, or even a flute--a practice one if you prefer! They are simply beautiful! And I'm thinking I know what I might be picking up for Christmas gifts this year... at least for family... I am going to go so broke.

We saw four shows--far fewer than normal for me, but I did get to hang with my friends. We saw Slavya, a women's singing group from Bulgaria. They sang all in Bulgarian, and told us about the songs before singing. They didn't have any CD's, or I would have been sorely tempted.

After Slavya, we saw The Chess Game, which is in a different location this year. Normally it's played on the Jousting Feild, but this year they wanted to make it part of the King's story, so it made more sense for King Henry and Princess Anna to play on a stage rather than at the feild where no one can hear them. The fighters still got to fight for each square, though. Always good to see the fighters!

Between shows, we got recruited to sing for Princess Anna at her bridal shower. Unfortunately the Princess didn't show, but the song (to the tune of Row, row, row your boat) goes thusly:
Soon, soon, you'll be our queen, but Anna don't relax!
Chippty, choppety, chippety, choppety, hope you're spared the AX!!

Prior to Fight School 2: RELOADED we sat and listened to E! Muzeki. They were fabulous. They play gypsy music, and they are so talented! I am definitely getting one of their CD's--I couldn't on Saturday because I just had enough left to buy a Fight School T-Shirt! Yay! They were out of time, but the Fight School boys told them to play their last song--a rendition of Led Zepplin's Kashmere that has to be heard to be believed. And I don't even like Led Zepplin. 'Course, this meant that the Fight School boys got to play around backstage for us to giggle at. What was also neat was the belly dancers came out and danced while the band was playing (Christie? Christina? you must come!)

Fight school was great as always (I'm not prejudiced at all, am I?) Just a couple favorite phrases: "Batista!" "I don't care if it's hot, these people deserve a show!" Afterwards I did get my first t-shirt (only had enough $ left for one), and all four boys signed it. I even got two signed post cards! Not sure how that happened, I think one more was signed than actually needed, but now I have one to frame and one to put in my scrapbook forever and ever!

So fun! I'm going again on Labor Day and I'm seriously considering Celtic weekend--which is the 8th, not the 15th as I told one of my freinds.

Pictures of the weekend will be forthcoming. and hopefully sooner than last years (which I think are still not posted...)

TV Viewing Schedules

I mentioned my TV Viewing Schedule in my last post, and went as far to write it all down when I realized it really didn't have much to do with anything. But I didn't want to lose it, so here it is.

Last year, in Fall/Winter/Spring I used to watch:

Sunday night: Battlestar Galactica (really too violent for Sunday night, I would often tape it)
Monday night: LA family cop show on the Family Channel; Heroes
Tuesday Night: Gilmore Girls; Veronica Mars; Law & Order Criminal Intent; L&O SVU; Eureka (when it was on) (yes that is too many shows to watch in one night, I wasn't always successful, and my VCR was constantly full)
Wednesday Night: Lost; Medium
thursday Night: catch up on the ones I missed on Tuesday, sometimes "are you smarter than a fifth grader?", or a movie, then 'The Riches' in the spring, on FX (another family, not really a family show, though--Minnie Driver was the impetus for that one)
Friday Night: Stargate SG-1; Stargate Atlantis; Dr Who; Occaisionally Numbers
Saturday Night: more catch up or movie night

The new season hasn't been released yet, but since Gilmore Girls, Veronica Mars, and Stargate SG-1 have been cancelled, Lost and Medium don't start until January, as long as nothing really new or interesting shows up on the new schedule I might actually have time to read this year :D

My Summer viewing schedule is not nearly that bad:
Sunday Night: the 4400, the Dead Zone
Monday Night: starting to watch the Heroes repeats
Tuesday Night: Eureka
Wednesday Night: nada
Thursday Night: Who wants to be a Superhero?
Friday Night: Dr Who, sometimes Monk, Psych
Saturday Night: really late, Dr Who.

See, lots more time for movies and books :D

Spent last week writing a document that was due on Friday. Took up all my time at work. Evenings were fairly calm, I don't think I had to go anywhere except for Quiet Book Construction on Thursday. So see, you haven't missed anything.

Saturday was really fun--I got to help with our Primary activity. They had a Medieval theme, which meant I got to wear my garb. yay! I didn't get any pictures, sorry--I was busy helping the kids make their sheilds. They all did very, very well! and they had so much fun! We did run out of pink, which could have been expected given the number of princesses there. The remaining princesses were ok with yellow or green, though. One girl was so sweet, she made a sheild for her baby brother.

Afterwards I went home, returning to my 21st century shape (bodices really do change the shape of your body, when worn correctly), and watched "The Dish", a great little movie about the Australian Ground Station that was the only on in the Southern Hemisphere big enough to transfer video images from the moon to the Earth during the Apollo 11 moon landing. Yup, Neil spoke through Australia to Huston. Then I finished out Season 1 of The Magnificent Seven--a lovely little guns & cowboys series that was, alas!, too short. I think I did something after that, but in the evening I went shopping. I loved having that day all to myself.

Sunday was nice too, stayed in bed way to late reading 'Flyte', the second in the Septimus Heap series. (yes, I finally finished 'Eclipse') Went to church and got to hold baby William during the third hour. The poor sister who had him the second hour (I did offer!) got baby spit-up all over her. Yuck! After church was the Single Adult Potluck dinner, and the Why I Believe Fireside. Both went well, although it looked rather sad to the first sister who showed up at the dinner, me sitting in the room with no tables (I can't get the tables myself), looking rather forlorn. I did make it home in time to watch 'the 4400' and 'The Dead Zone', both of which are on my summer Viewing List (which is a lot shorter than my Fall/Winter/Spring Viewing List).

So far this week is looking a lot like last week--I have visiting teaching but not much else. Well, maybe a birthday party on Thursday, provided my VT is done.

From Jann's blog...

HowManyOfMe.com

There are 40 people with my name in the U.S.A.

The funny part is that there was one in Iowa City when I was going to school there...

Pay it Forward

found this on Mendy's blog, and could NOT resist! :D

I will send a handmade gift to the first three (3) people who leave a comment on my blog requesting to join this PIF exchange. You may not receive it tomorrow or next week, but you will receive it within 365 days! The only thing you have to do in return is pay it forward by making the same promise on your blog. (So, you must have a blog to participate.)

How fun! Now let's all pay it forward, give each other gifts just for the heckuvit, and comment away!

If you are one of the three, I'll contact you to get your mailing info (if I don't already have it.) If you're not one of the three, hurry and click over to the winners' blogs to see if you can make it!

One more about the book...

I know, I should really leave this alone. but I just CAN'T!! At least my sister's reading the infamous teenage vampire series, I would really love to know what she thinks. I leant her Twilight, then found out last night she had to run out and buy the next two :D

There may be spoilers here, but I think everyone that reads my blog also has read the book (I think I'm woefully behind)

I was considering some of the comments that were posted after my last Eclipse post (and no, I haven't finished the book nor gotten to *that* part yet), and it sounds like a lot of people think that the Edward/Bella relationship is the most perfect ideal one there could be--so very romantic. I'm going to disagree. I know I'm in the minority, but I think Jacob is much better for her. Edward is so busy taking care of her and trying to protect her--even from himself--that he doesn't seem to see her as a true person. Her ability to block him from her mind intrigues him, yes, and the smell of her blood intoxicates him, but is that love? Her complete collapse after he left in book 2 seems more like an obsession rather than love to me. I personally wouldn't want someone protecting me from life and from death.

On the other hand, Jacob protects her, tries to keep her from hurting herself, but allows her to be who she is. She's happy, really happy, not obsessed when she's with him. He tells her everything she needs to know to keep herself safe, and is there to help. He is much more empowering to her, allowing her to make her own decisions yet be there for her. Also, his world doesn't revolve around her--he has his own life and interests.

Maybe, just maybe, this is the author's point (keeping in mind that I haven't read the last book yet so I don't know if this is the end of a trilogy or the start of a series). She keeps Bella out of trouble, but will someday help her to see that Edward truly isn't good for her. Jacob, while possessing an inhuman part, is far more human, far more good. Or maybe Bella just likes the bad boys, the way so many women do.

Course, this is just my perspective. I couldn't see the love story in "The Time Traveler's Wife" either. But for me, if I were in Bella's situation, I would have to choose Jacob.

halflings and movies...

So what did I do last week? Dropped Bonnie off on Sunday, had FHE at the Francos and Single Adults on Monday, went to the Stake SA committee meeting on Tuesday, went to the Ward SA Committee meeting on Wednesday, finished HP 7 (second time) on Thursday, went to a movie (Hairspray) with my friend Jann on Friday, then caught up on all my missed summer tv shows (I'd actually watched most of them in real-time, so catching up wasn't hard to do). Normal, basically.

Saturday I overslept and went to RPG (role-playing game--Yes I do Dungeons and Dragons. It's helping me with my math) with my friends. My little halfling (11th level, thank you very much!) had a great time disabling all the traps the DM (Dungeon Master) had set up. He kept saying, "this is a tricky one," or "this one is trickier than the last one", and I would roll my die and get a 38 when I had to beat a 35. First try. Definitely had all the luck. The poor Paladin that was with us almost died three times because he kept rolling so badly :::shakes head::: But I had to leave rather quickly because I was supposed to go to a SA activity. My friends tried to dissuade me, "call in sick!", "don't go", "blow them off!" I had to tell them twice, "I have to go, I'm IN CHARGE." One other person showed up--not too surprising since we weren't able to advertise because the one person who was going to set it up (or at least find out the details) didn't, and we can't even be mad at her because she had an accident about a week or so ago (sigh). So we pulled it together, and like I said, one other person showed up. Bro Paul. We went to see Stardust (which was enjoyable, not as good as LotR, but also much better than such fare as "Time Bandits"). I really hope people don't start thinking I'm dating Bro Paul, though, because I'm not. We're just the only two responsible people in the entire Stake SA program. I hate my calling. Don't suggest I ask to be released, though, because there is literally no one else in the entire stake that can carry this, and it really must be done. It is important. I just wish I had help. And no, Bro Paul isn't much help, he just manages to show up half the time. Boy, I think this is turning bitter.

Sunday was great, though. Slept in, read New Moon (which I hadn't read yet, and needed to catch up to all my other friends), went to church taking my friend's daughters with me. That was a lot of fun. Got home and read some more. Managed to stop in time to watch the 4400 and the Dead Zone, but basically that was about it.

See, a nice normal weekend with no visitors and no jaunts to Virginia. Next weekend should be about the same. Except for the baby shower in Westminster.

Questions not to "Eclipse" the issue

Haven't finished reading the book yet, so am going on what I've heard and seen posted about it. Many of my LDS friends are really into this series about teenagers and vampires. Some of them are quite disappointed by the third instalment, others think it's just wonderful. The thing that seems to bother the disappointed ones the most is that the author is also LDS.

I read the review Joni posted (http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/12/books/review/Schillinger7-t.html?_r=2&oref=slogin&oref=slogin) and what I got out of it is that the author really doesn't follow LDS standards when she writes. So are we mad at her for not upholding the standards we know she has, or upset because of what she wrote? I think I'm putting this badly, but do we think that just because a person is LDS that we can expect certain things from them, that if we knew they were not LDS we wouldn't be surprised by? Would my friend have let her daughter read the book if the author had NOT been LDS? Everything else being the same, would it matter if the author was not LDS?

I've come across something like this before. A man I knew in California was a producer of theatrical productions--I was in two of them. But it seemed to me and my brother-in-law that he used his 'LDS-ness' to get ahead in his industry, producing productions that families would want to see, not necesarily for the greater good, but to get gain. Is this what Ms Meyer is doing? Or is she merely being a young adult author, albeit targeting the late-teen crowd? Was she pummelled by her editor into adding things that we consider 'inappropriate', but that the editor would make the book more marketable?

I think we need to not judge people for their religion. You know, expect certain things from an author/performer/artist because he or she is LDS/Catholic/Muslim/Buddhist. Like or dislike the work for what it is. If they hold up their standards respect them for it.

Discuss.

alas and alak!

I think I just like saying that.

It's been a while, but I have been very very busy. I'll try to keep this short, I really don't have a lot of time to write today, but I really feel I need to catch up somewhat.

Last Thursday I FINALLY got to talk to my friends about Harry Potter (book club, you know). It was great. I need to do a write up of my impressions for my email group, but given that I absolutely hate sitting down at my home computer (it is SO SLOW!!) I tend to do other things. Besides, I'm reading it again. Meant to read book 6 again first, but got caught up in other things.

Friday I got to work really early to help Bob out at TIMED, and then found that I had been volunteered to attend a couple meetings I hadn't planned on, and I needed to leave by 2:30 so I could meet up with my sister and take her oldest daughter off her hands. Well, I didn't get out until 3:00pm and with stopping for gas and whatever, I really didn't leave Laurel until 3:15 or so, but I did get to the park by about 5:30pm, traffic and all. Poor Beckie left her house at 2:00pm and didn't get to the park until about 5:00pm. There is a lot of construction along I-78, I think, which turned her 2-hour trip into a 3-hour trip. Mileage-wise the park we meet at is about the same for both of us. But we picked up Bonnie and got dinner at McDonalds, and then they were off, back to East Stroudsburg and Bonnie and I were off to my house. She talked the WHOLE WAY. She's 7. It was fun, though.

We got to my house and she claimed she wasn't going to bed until I did, so we worked on her quiet book and got ready for bed around 10:30pm, and I read more HP. Saturday morning I was having a dream, and thought a little animal was walking on my arm. Turns out Bonnie had gotten up and was patting me on my arm, "Wake up, Aunt Julia! We need to go to the zoo now!" Of course, it was 6:30 in the morning, so needless to say we did NOT go the zoo right then. We did, however, have breakfast and work more on her quiet book. She wanted to. She's a very crafty sort of kid. She doesn't like to watch TV much, she would rather be doing things. We managed to finish four pages for her book while she was here. She did a lot of the lettering and some of the cutting, while I did the tracing and sewing.

So at 9:30 am we did leave for the DC Zoo, picking up my friend Dina along the way. She had never been to a zoo before, she said (or if she had, it had been a really long time). We got there ok, but it was hot and there were a lot of people there. The zoo had spritzers on to cool the people down, and Bonnie really enjoyed running through them. She would get so soaked! We had parked at the bottom of the hill, so we walked all the way up and saw the Pandas. That baby panda is just so cute! I'll get my pictures up at some point so you can see too! We had lunch, then walked down and saw the elephants and monkeys. We'd seen the lions and tigers on the way up. The line for the invertebrates house was kinda long, so we skipped that. There wasn't a line on the way up, I guess we should have gone in then (but since I really don't care for snakes, I wasn't too disappointed). Dina wanted to see the sea lions, but the exhibit was closed--after we'd walked around for another 15 minutes trying to find it, Bonnie crying that she wanted to go home the whole time. So we did go home. We drove up by the temple, but while Bonnie wanted to see the temple, she didn't want to get out of the air-conditioned car. Dina took a picture, though.

We dropped Dina off, then went back to my house and worked on Bonnie's book some more. And she played with my dolls. I have a lot of dolls (I think I keep saying that). We went shopping after dinner--she needed some new sandals, and her mother said she'd pay me back if we could find some. Apparently she only had her tennies and her church shoes, and that was it. We were able to find some really cute pink shoes at Toys 'R' Us (they have a kids clothing section) that were even on sale. If I'd realized that before we got to the checkout counter, I may have bought her two pair, because that would still have been within her mother's spending limit, but it's ok. She loves her new shoes.

Sunday was good, too. Again with the waking up too early, but at least it was 7:30am this time. I'd stayed up late making another page for her quiet book, so I wasn't too happy about that and made her wait until 8:00am before I got out of bed. She had breakfast (fast sunday, you know), and we worked a little more on her book before she decided she really wanted to do something else. We had made mini-cupcakes the night before, so now we frosted them and got them ready to take to her family. Then I let her play my bowed psaltery for a bit. She had lunch, and then we went to church. Other than she wanted to sit on the very front row, it was really good. We brought both quiet books, hers and mine, and she was a busy--and quiet--little girl. After Sacrament Meeting I had a meeting with the Bishop (no, no callings extended (or released from)), but it was a good little meeting, and Bonnie was really good there too. We got home, changed clothes, and then Bonnie started loading up the car while I was finishing getting things ready. I tell you, this girl has initiative. The whole weekend I was constantly surprised at a lot of the things she would do, just because she had thought of it. We were able to get toys and books for her brother and sister, and she even got ready for church without me asking her to. I guess I'm not around enough to watch her grow up, so when I see her doing things like that it's a surprise. A pleasant surprise, so say the least. I'm sure her mom doesn't get to see a lot of that, though, given that Bonnie and her sister tend to fight a lot.

So we drove back to PA. One thing we did, and I'm still not sure it's legal, was have her sit in the front seat, in her car seat. She is 7, and my car couldn't sense her so the airbag thing stayed off, but it was fun to have her in the front seat with me. Maybe some of my friends with similar-aged kids can enlighten me?

We met up with Beckie and Malena just fine--they had another three-hour trip, though, to our two-hour trip. I felt really bad about that--we could have met farther up the road if I'd known. We won't be doing this again until next year, though, if they are still living in this part of the country.

Monday was FHE at the Francos with the Single Adults, and it was so fun. I really enjoy that family. I brought Sis Keats, Sis Clark, and Bro Paul with me, so it was nice. Tuesday was the SA Committee meeting, and tonight is the Ward SA Committee meeting. So yeah, no time to really slow down and breathe yet. Tomorrow night. And I think a movie might be in order Friday night (anyone want to come?)

I think the crazy part of the summer is over for me now, though. All the visits are completed, the dogs have been adopted, no SA conferences to attend (well, I've decided not to go to the one at the end of the month), and only MDRF to get ready for. :::sigh of relief!:::

All right, I give!

have to make sure it's a good bandwagon before I jump on...
Remember, one-word answers.

1. Where is your mobile phone? purse
2. Relationship? nonexistant
3. Your hair? curly
4. Work? slow
5. Your sister(s)? friends
6. Your favorite thing? dolls
7. Your dream last night? odd
8. Your favorite drink? water
9. Your dream car? Mustang
10. The room you're in? office
11. Your shoes? on
12. Your fears? dying-alone
13. What do you want to be in 10 years? content
14. Who did you hang out with this weekend? shannon
15. What are you not good at? Relationships
16. Muffin? oatbranwithraisons
17. Wish list item? books
18. Where you grew up? california
19. The last thing you did? lunch
20. What are you wearing? clothes
21. What are you not wearing? renaissance-garb
22. Your pet? adopted
23. Your computer? slow
24. Your life? crazy
25. Your mood? even
26. Missing? home
27. What are you thinking about? requirements
28. Your car? red
29. Your kitchen? small
30. Your summer? insane
31. Your favorite color? purple
32. Last time you laughed? yesterday
33. Last time you cried? lastweek
34. School? over
35. Love? family

Alas! FUSE!

FUSE* is dying. They're still trying to resucitate it, but there is little hope. The fourth wheel got stuck again in June, and all efforts (so far) to get it restarted have been futile. Without at least one wheel, the little satellite that could no longer can. Poor FUSE. Poor people who spent so many years, sweat, and tears on it. Poor those that will need new positions very soon. I feel really bad for the Primary Investigator. He was devastated last year when NASA wouldn't renew funding past 2008. Now he will have to find something else to do. then again, FUSE took a lot of really good data for 8 years. There's plenty of data to wade through. Maybe enough to keep him busy until he's ready to retire. Not that old scientists ever retire, it's not like it's a physically demanding job, after all.

I am grateful that I have a new position, and very shortly I'll be made an APL'er. I'm really glad my new satellites (there are two) won't have any wheels on them. Propellant doesn't last forever, but at least there are no moving parts! Well, ok, maybe one relay per thruster, but if one gets stuck there are other thrusters to do the job.

*FUSE=Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer, the satellite mission I was on for almost 10 years.

Huffle-what??

Your Score: Huffledor

You scored 55% Order/Chaos, and 69% Moral/Rational

Morality with an orderly/chaotic split. You've got a fixed idea of morality, you know that for sure, but your view on regulations waffles. Rules are rules, but you're also able to see when it's really more of a guideline. Your strengths arise from your balanced view of order that allows you to carefully choose strategies for furthering your causes; your weakness is the fact that, given the success your strengths are likely to give you, you may not be receptive to the idea that you are not absolutely in the right.

The 4-grid I used to determine this is as follows:

	Chaotic	Orderly
Moral	Gryffindor	Hufflepuff
Rational	Slytherin	Ravenclaw

Link: The Sorting Hat Test written by 8sevenatenine8 on OkCupid, home of the The Dating Persona Test

Various and sundry items...

It has been a week, hasn't it?

so sorry, I've been trying to do my write-up of the weekend, and in the process haven't really wanted to write anything else, but now I realize that I want to do a journal page and put it up on the web (I will credit all pictures I borrow, but if someone has a problem with me doing that please let me know and I won't use your pictures). In the meantime, my pictures are here

Not nearly as many as I had thought, but there you go. I have more in my phone, something else I need to work on.

Yes I have read the entire HP book, and did it withing 24 hours of recieving it. I went to the party at Borders the night before, and got my book about 1:45am. I got home and started reading, I fell asleep around chapter 4, then got up and read a couple more chapters until time to leave for the trip to the Burrow, where I finished it before 2:00 am Sunday morning. I must say, though, the most frustrating thing is NOT talking about it because there is ALWAYS someone around who HASN'T READ IT YET!! I mean really, what's the point if you can't talk about it?

Monday night my friend Tess and I wen to see the HP movie (yes, twice for me, once for her). Now that I know how it all ends, I'm a little disturbed that the movie makers felt that Dobby was no longer important after movie 2 and have cut him out of all subsequent movies. That's all I'm going to say. That's all I said in the theater, and a woman got mad at me. Yikes. Nuttier than squirrel poo, that's all I have to say.

And for those that were wondering, my laughing fit on Saturday evening was caused by the image of Snape running away from a bottle of shampoo. Gotta love those Weasly Twins!!

The rest of this week has been rather tame as I finished reading book 2 of The Dresden Files. Another story about a wizard named Harry, only in Chicago. Except it was very violent and I had to skip a number of pages because it was just too much (there were werewolves, need I say more?). This may be the last one I read of this series. Time to return to Honor Harrington, I think.

Emotionally I've been a bit of a wreck, what with feeling invisible and all. I've never learned how to insert comments into a group successfully, and when it becomes apparent that no one has any intereste in anything I say, I typically leave. It frustrates me that after all this time my first reaction is still flight. When am I going to learn how to deal with other people?? No self-help suggestions, please. Sure I can make people like me by listening to them but why is no one interested in listening to ME?? Like I said, invisible. I'm convinced I'm just not that interesting of a person. Sigh.

Today I feel a little better, though, and tonight people are coming over my house for quiet book makeing. This will hopefully get me motivated enough to finish my niece M's book and start on my niece B's book. They both need to be completed by next weekend, so we'll see. I should have lots of time this weekend to work on them; it's the first weekend in about 3 months that I don't have anything planned. Well, sort of. I did make plans to meet my friend S in VA for a movie, but that doesn't really count, does it?

Have a great day!

I always knew I had it in me...

Dogless

Well, it happened. I mentioned in my last post that the Good Dog Rescue people had recieved a couple of applications for my dogs. The applications were processed just as I was going on my vacation, so the woman from GDR worked it out with my boarding kennel to take the dogs out and have them meet the applicants. Well, that happened last Saturday. I got a call while at Shore Leave letting me know that both dogs had been adopted, separately. I got an email this morning letting me know that they're both doing ok, although it's still an adjustment for them. It's a bit of an adjustment for me too--I do miss them. Although, I don't miss them enough to think I want them back. One friend said that this was probably a good thing, to help me know just how much I want a pet, or if maybe having a pet isn't the right thing for me. So far, I'm adjusting ok to not having my little buddies around, and it's nice to think I can just go where I want after work and not worry about getting home to feed and walk the dogs before they explode. This really is for the best. For them, and for me. They get one human a piece to love and care for them, so they don't have to share attention or water or anything.

I'm once again alone and selfish, but still entirely too busy to think about it too much. Maybe next week. Plus, I now have my 'breathing' baby, so that's comforting.

A fortnight of activities

Yeah, I know, most people like to record things as they're happening, and I confess I've done that before, but for the last two weeks I haven't really been anywhere NEAR my computer...

So what have I been up to?

Well, after Malena left, I returned to dogs that were still a little freaked out, but they calmed down eventually. Monday, Tuesday were basically work then SA stuff (FHE and Stake Committee Meeting, respectively). Wednesday, being the Fourth of July, I was able to stay home. I did some yard work, then watched the first two Harry Potter movies--I have a goal to watch all four previous movies before seeing the new one--and worked on Malena's quiet book. There was a thunderstorm that evening that cut the power for about 5 minutes and freaked the dogs out for about an hour and a half. They hid behind a door and wouldn't come out for the longest time, poor guys!

Thursday and Friday were really more like another Monday and a Friday, although I did watch HP and the Prisoner of Azkaban on Thursday night and went to Ward Temple Night on Friday night. Instead of getting ready for the Next Great Adventure: my Dad and his wife Nancy were coming on Saturday! It was ok, though.

Saturday morning was spent cleaning house and then in the early afternoon taking the dogs to yet another Adoption Event. We couldn't stay long because I still had much to do at home before picking D&N up at the airport--including cleaning the car out. I had intended to do that anyway, but since both dogs were carsick on the way to the adoption event, it became necessary. Poor little guys, right? Again we met up with people who thought they were cute but not what they were looking for, and while there were a couple people who had submitted applications for them neither were able to attend this particular event. So they came home with me and I put them in their crate and went to clean out my car.

I picked up D&N at the airport with no trouble, then we went out to eat at Applebees. Still yummy. We went home, and with a couple hours to kill before bedtime, Dad requested we watch the first Star Wars. The one he showed in 1977 while he was working as a projectionist in the evenings. I'm always up for Star Wars, so we did :)

Sunday was nice, we watched Testaments and basically hung out with the dogs. Interesting note: the dogs like my dad! They almost never barked at him unless they were startled. They barked at Nancy a lot, though. We got ready for and went to church, where I had the opportunity to hold Baby R all through church--mostly because I wouldn't relinquish her, but her parents were happy to let me since they both had to teach that day :D. I did give her back when church was over, though. We went home, had Taco Pie (yes, from Freezer Meal Swap, and it was Yummy!), and watched The Empire Strikes Back.


Monday we got up and were ready to go so D&N came with me to drop the dogs off at their boarding place. I arranged with them to let K from the Good Dog Rescue to come take them out if necessary, to meet potential adopters, since I was planning on leaving them there for a week. We joked about getting the dogs adopted before I got back. Then it was on to Strasburg, Pa for D&N and me. It was a lovely drive, and we had lunch in the Red Caboose Restaurant--yes, an actual caboose from a train. Dad loves trains, hence the visit to Strasburg. My sister Beckie and her family were going to meet us there around 2:00pm at the Railroad Museum, so we decided to visit the toy train museum first. D&N are putting in a G size train in their back yard, and love to look at what other people have done. Actually, Dad's always been into toy trains, and has instilled that love in about two of his boys. Now he finally has time to pursue his hobby :D. The toy train museum was quite fun, but meeting up with Beckie and her family didn't go well--my phone wasn't getting any signal for some reason, and they got caught in traffic. They did finally get there around 4:00pm, and Doug (her husband) decided that we had to ride the train. There's an old steam engine train that runs from Strasburg to Paradise, about a 20 minute trip. Collin, the almost-3 year-old, was in heaven. He LOVES trains. He was so excited to see all the trains, and to be able to take a ride on one! So cute! After the train ride we went back to the Red Caboose Restaurant for dinner, since they were hungry and it was close, and did actually work ok for a family restaurant, even if we couldn't put the tables all together (there were 8 of us). The drive to Beckie's house was fairly uneventful, although we started first and they managed to catch up to us on the way :D That was kind of fun.

Tuesday Dad really didn't want to go sight seeing, so we watched the kids so Beckie could go grocery shopping BY HERSELF! (You mothers know how valuable that is.) We played a bit, had lunch, and then D&N and I went out shopping while Beckie had to work and her babysitter came to watch the kids--we figured it would be better for us to get out of the way, and we had to pick up a few things anyway. We got back after Beckie put in her time, and after Davi had left, and we did some puzzles with the kids. Puzzles Nancy and I had bought for them while we were out. Because that's what aunts and grandmas are supposed to do :D A quiet night after dinner, with them visiting and me reading reading reading--I had set a goal to read all the HP books before the next one came out, and I was only on book 4! I finished it while I was there, though.

Wednesday it was time for us to leave. We walked Bonnie to school (she's in summer school), and then took our leave. Malena cried and cried--she kept trying to talk us into staying a little later, but we knew that it really didn't matter when we left, she still wouldn't want us to go. So we gave hugs and kisses all around (Collin was quite calm about the whole thing, but then, he is 2), and left. Dad wanted to go back to Strasburg, and since we were going that way anyway I wanted to visit a couple places nearby. We stopped first at the Farmer's Market in Bird-in-Hand, which I haven't been to in quite a long time. I found a beautiful little doll that plays "what a wonderful world" in the right colors for my bedroom--which is where she is right now. Dad found a little bell that he was looking for (one of the reasons he wanted to return to Strasburg), and Nancy just liked going through all the little shops and by all the little areas. I was so tempted by the little Amish dolls, but I'd already bought a pair on Monday and my rule is that I only get one pair per trip! Besides, I'd just bought the musical doll...

After the Farmer's Market, we went to the Doll Outlet store. Not sure what town it's in, but it's not far from the outlet mall just outside of Lancaster. They advertise that they have over 5000 dolls there, and they do! I loved walking around and seeing all the dolls. Upstairs they had baby dolls. I found one that has a breathing mechanism inside it. He came home with me. I really just couldn't put him down, and I figure he'll be a good substitute for those days when I don't have access to a baby at church or something :) I love to hold little babies, I find it very calming. They must too, because they all fall asleep! My one true talent, is what I call it. Ah, but I digress. We had lunch in Intercourse, PA, at a little place that has managed to cash in on the Amish way of life (I would really like to know how the Amish feel about that), and I got some dried sweet corn and some Apple Butter. The sweet corn is to make creamed corn for Thanksgiving. Not sure if I'll be at Beckie's or not for Thanksgiving since that's when her baby is due, but if I'm in MD and you're in MD you're welcome to come over and try some!

We did return to Strasburg, but it was raining and Dad didn't want to get out of the car. The Railroad Museum had been closed on Monday, due to the PA Legislature not passing a budget, but they passed it on Tuesday so it was open on Wednesday, but since we were there for Dad and he no longer wanted to go, we just drove home. I have now seen a LOT more of Eastern PA than I ever expected to. But it is a very nice drive, and it is so very green. Dad did make a comment about all the trees in MD--they're nice, but how do we see where we are, or where we're going? Well, we don't, is my answer. You just have to read the signs. We got home in time to have a makeshift dinner--the whole time they were there D&N wanted to make sure I wasn't doing a lot of work for them, so we had a lot of leftovers and freezer meals. Not really a problem for me, since that's kind of what I had planned, but I do wish I had been able to talk them into the kabobs! We watched The Return of the Jedi that evening--sense a theme? Yes, it was at Dad's request, now you know where I get it from :D

Thursday Dad didn't want to do any sight-seeing, so we came up with a list of small, odd jobs that needed doing around the house and went to Home Depot to get the supplies. Nancy decided she wanted to mow the lawn using my push mower, and discovered--with Dad's help--that it hadn't been put together properly (sorry Daely! (my niece and I put it together when she was here in March)). So Dad fixed it, and it works a lot better now. We put up garden hose holders in front and back, I clipped the bush in front, Nancy mowed, and then we were tired and hot so we went inside for lunch. After lunch we did the inside jobs--a vent that needed putting in, attatching a full-length mirror to the back of a door, and a couple of other things. Then we sat and watched The Phantom Menace. Dad had never seen the Star Wars prequels.

We went to dinner at the Crab Shanty in Ellicott City. Very nice, seafood place. I don't usually care for seafood, but I figured they were visiting Maryland so they should have Crab Cakes. Dad ordered a variety platter, I ordered Crab Cakes, and we all shared. It was very good, but I still don't care that much for seafood. Don't mind fresh water fish, and I do like crab cakes, but for the most part, I'm not a shellfish person. I did manage to grab the check before Dad did, though! He's been paying for everything--including two tanks of gas--all week! After dinner we went back home and watched The Attack of the Clones.

Friday morning was their last day. They got up at their usual 7:00-7:30 time, but their plane didn't leave until 1:30pm, so we put in the final movie, The Revenge of the Sith. There are parts of that movie I really have a hard time watching. I did get to hold my baby the whole time, though, and that helped (me hide my face!). Then, since they were packed and we were out of things to do, I took them to the airport about three hours early. Well, Dad wanted to be there at 11:00 am, so it was really only a half-hour earlier than that. Hugs and good-byes, and they were on their way.

And so was I. Off to the bank for some cash, to Wal-Mart for some last-minute things, then home to do some quick laundry before leaving to go to Shore Leave, the sci-fi convention I've been going to for the last 5 years. I usually really enjoy it. This year, not so much. But that's ok. I got to see Nichelle Nichols (Lt Uhura from Star Trek), Claudia Christian (Cmdr Ivonova from Babylon 5), Paul McGillion (Dr Becket from Stargate Atlantis), and a few others. My friend was giving a presentation on her satellite, New Horizons and the Jupiter flyby that happened a couple months ago, so I went to her presentation too. I managed to spend all my money in the dealers' rooms, although you do have to acknowledge that I finally bought the $50 "Dressing a Galaxy" by Trisha Biggar (she did all the costumes for the Prequel Star Wars movies), so that was 1/4 of what I had brought. Lots of little things for my friends, pictures for EstelSolo, and an autograph. I did stand in line for an hour for an autograph by Ms Nichols, but the picture I had bought for her to sign turned out to be pirated--she wouldn't sign it. The pictures they had available at her table were $20, and I no longer had $20 by that time. So I stood in line for nothing. I should have gone to the art auction.

I did go to the Masquerade. I love to see the costumes they come up with--they're usually very good, and so imaginative. I was thinking about entering this year, but I wasn't feeling too good (I had started coughing the night before, so I even nixed the Blood Drive), so I skipped that. Actually, the costume that stands out for me was one a kid did, based on Pirates of the Carribean, The End of the World. He was the little kid in the beginning who started singing the song--which he also did. It was a very good re-enactment. Maybe next year, if I go, I'll show up as Elanor the Hobbit.

That was Friday and Saturday, Sunday I did make it to church but left when I realized I was falling asleep, and still wasn't feeling 100%. So I went home and finished the Harry Potter book I was reading (Order of the Pheonix--one more book to go!). I did go to the SA potluck that night, but the fireside was cancelled due to lack of interest (the ward responsible for getting a speaker didn't, and since I was on vacation I didn't do it either). I got home in time to watch HP and The Goblet of Fire, so I am now all ready for the movie. Which is good, because that's what I'm doing tonight!!

Pivotal Day

Today is the middle of the year. 2007 is half over, we only have 6 months remaining. So the question of the day is, how are you doing on your New Year's Resolutions??

Of course you don't have to answer, but as for me, I think I will. I keep dropping the number of resolutions I make each year. This year I think I had three. One: to lose weight. And guess what?? I've lost 10 lbs since January!!! Yay for me! Two and three I'll have to go look up, but I would guess I'm not doing so well since I can't remember them. Oh well.

I had quite the weekend. My 5-year-old niece came to visit me for the weekend as a part of her birthday gift. The other part was her quiet book that is still not finished :::sigh::: We went to Port Discovery, and after about two hours (which included leaving to get lunch at the McDonalds next door) she was exhausted and so was I. So we went back to my house. She wanted to play with the dogs, but the dogs were scared of her, so all they did was bark and lay around. They wouldn't relieve themselves outside, either, but would wait until we were both upstairs and then make puddles in the house. On top of that my niece was coughing a lot, so although she claimed she felt fine I suspect she really wasn't feeling well. Sunday morning was ok as we played games and watched some morning Disney shows, the dogs were mostly ok but I locked them up when we went upstairs to play dolls (yes, I played Barbies with my niece!). We tried going to church, but that was a fiasco as she had a meltdown in the car before we even went into the building. I suppose I should have just bagged it right then, but taking the Sacrament is important, and I was fasting for Fast Sunday so my dogs will find a good home. We did go in, but ended up in the lobby until after they passed the Sacrament. We went back out to the car, only to find that I had lost my keys. Fortunately I was able to find them again quickly, thanks to my friend for noticing that I had left them in the chapel! We made it home and changed, where she had another meltdown, but we managed to get everything in the car and on our way to meet up with my sister who was coming down from PA to pick her up. The best part was that my niece slept all the way to the park near Hershey. :::sigh:::

So the weekend was rough, with a few good spots. The dogs did allow Malena to walk them when we went out for our morning and evening walks. She did enjoy going in the drain at Port Discovery--I went in after her the first time, and it really is kind of interesting, entering in from the kitchen and coming out the bathtub. It's very dark, you have to feel your way through it. Malena really enjoyed doing that, particularly after she found a glow stick someone had dropped. We watched Cinderella, both Toy Story movies, and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and she helped me with her quiet book (which I will finish hopefully soon--it just needs sewing).

something you don't see every day...

Headline from Fark.com (no I don't go there, my friend had this in his LJ)

"Section of Salt Lake City on lockdown after discovering suspected terrorist trumpet. Police put out APB on the angel Moroni."

The headline is better than the story (a suspicious package was noticed, police were called, a robot detonated it, then they opened it to find a trumpet). Come to think of it, that might make a really good fictional story. I'll have to think about that...

The Weekend

Well, I did get sick. But it didn't impact me too greatly. I did miss the barn dance on Saturday night, but I made the rest of the conference. And it was good.

Friday afternoon I went to the DC Stake Center early--originally I was going to attend the temple session, but I figured taking a cold to a closed room was not a good idea. I'm pretty sure I was still contagious at that point. So I hung around and offered to help but most of the stuff was already done. I went to the Visitor's Center around 7:00pm, to see if they needed me there, and I did quite a bit of running up and down the stairs in the theater room. The Knudsens from C2 were performing, and then Sis Okasaki spoke to us. She taught us three lessons using chewing gum. It was very good. Then it was back to the Stake Center for dessert and registration. I stayed and helped clean up, then followed Linda to the Seneca Stake Center to help her unload, then followed her to her house where she let me sleep on her couch. With my cold. I thought that was very nice of her.

Saturday I did sleep in a little, but not much. I got to the Seneca Stake Center about 8:00 am (breakfast was at 9:00 am) and helped as much as I could. I made copies of the choir music (I feel my one true contribution to the conference was the music, but I did try to help out where I could). I was first in line at the breakfast buffet, when it was time, but set my plate on my table and then wandered around for a few more minutes getting juice, running to get my vitamins (an essential thing when one is sick--and thanks Mendy for the offer of the Airborne, maybe next time!). While going to the chapel where I had left my purse, I saw Lon (the piano man) at the registration table. yay!! Especially since he was to play for us. I heard him periodically throughout the day in the chapel playing the piano. He's so good. He came and ate breakfast at my table, too :D

Sis Okazaki gave the keynote address, on being of good cheer. It was very good, as expected. Then it was time for the first workshop, but I'm afraid I slipped out and went to the powder room and laid on the couch for about an hour until lunchtime. Not a great loss--that particular workshop speaker is very good, but all stuff I've heard before. After lunch Bro Daines from my ward (ok, so I had two contributions to the conference) gave his workshop on "The Morning Breaks, the Shadows Flee, and the 10th Article of Faith". Really about the Second Coming. And how it's more of a series of events, instead of a single event (hey, he quoted Elder Eyring, so it's official!). Excellent, excellent talk. Bro Daines has such a unique perspective, given his work in 71 underpriviledged countries. After that was Bro Laird from Seneca Stake talking about having balance in our lives. I'm not sure exactly what I got out of that, other than a desire to figure out where I'm spending all my time and seeing if I can bring some balance to that. Then there was another workshop from the very first workshop speaker, which I again ditched, only this time to help start cleaning up the building in preparation for our departure to the barn. Chior practice was to be after the final workshop, and she went on and on and on... like I said, she's good, but perhaps we should have only given her one workshop to do. so Choir Practice didn't start until 5:30 pm, way late, and with a trip to the barn for dinner and the dance waiting for everyone. It went ok, although short. Then I went home for some much needed rest and sleep. I had boarded my dogs for the weekend, so it was very quiet.

Sunday it was up early and off to the Seneca Stake Center. I actually got there about 8:45 am, which was early. Choir practice was supposed to start at 9:15 am, so I was able to help do a few little things. Not a whole lot needed to be done, though. People came, and we practiced our two songs for the Testimony meeting we were having. It went fairly well. The meeting itself was very good--I was very happy that Pres Johnson from my stake came and said a few words along with Pres Hammond from Seneca Stake. I again was in charge of music--the choir sang one song for prelude, and one song after all the talks and before the testimonies began. I was somewhat anxious for Pres Johnson to be there for the testimonies of the single adults. I don't think he truly has a feel for the Single Adult program, and I knew this would be a good experience for him. And it was. Lots of heartfelt testimonies. Truly, this is my favorite part of Single Adult conferences.

Then it was time for lunch, eat up all the leftovers, then put away all the tables and things and say good-bye to everyone until next year. Definitely going to do this again--and definitely going to do my best to NOT BE SICK NEXT TIME!!!