Photos of Projects in progress and late Christmas

Happy Happy Joy JOY!

Hello! Had a great Christmas that I will tell you more about that later. Been way too busy to type (as usual). Maybe buying a used but excellent film use camera from a co-worker. My brother and I took lots of photos with it at Christmas. He approves after using it. He has a very similar one. My parents got the film developed today and said it came out really well! I am going to have Brooke look it over and the photos to see what she thinks. It was really good to use a camera again!

Christmas now and Christmas future

This first photo is my Lemon Cypress decorated for Christmas in my garden. Rose is standing watch as always. My Snowman and Santa collection arranged on the window as usual. I put up my lighted houses all around the bottom of the inside Christmas tree instead if presents. The two presents on the chair are for Wil. I sent the family presents over to my parents house today. My parents met me after my hair appointment with Jenna. Cut and color. . . more later on that



The second photo is of the next Fake tree I bought at Target today. They were 50 percent off this week. I will keep it in the box and see what I can do better price wise the day after Christmas. I would rather have a fresh tree but size and dispose is tough in my building/'hood. What I really like about this tree is that the branches are full and softer in feel and look like a real tree. The white lights are built in so I can add a colored string if I choose.

The last photo is the lights from the inside and outside decorating shining along with the lights of the city. Kiki managed to get into the photo too. Yes, she is adored by all but do you have to be in everything, Kiki?

So that is my decorating for the holiday this year and looking to the next. Happy Holiday and hoping a great New Year to all and to all a good new night!

Dear Santa Baby

Dear Santa Baby,

I have decided to write you a letter much like when I was much younger. You cant go wrong aiming for the stars with no real expectations but the element of what you are surprised with. With that said I will type my list. It is no order so don't worry about that. Honestly whatever you do leave under my adorable tree is fine by me. I wanted to give you some ideas. Please note I did not ask for Steve Buscemi again this year. Wil said it would probably never happen. If I did find him under the tree I would not be disappointed.

~A Victoria's Secret Angel
Besides the obvious desire of these beautiful Angels I enjoy the strutting and unattainable attitude as they strut their stuff. The scant outfit doesn't hurt either. If she is a brainiac I would enjoy that even more.

~A room for projects and tools
I just don't have a space of my own to work on my projects at home. While I would not mind moving to get this I need to stay in the city in or very near my fabulous neighborhood. I cant pay more rent (would love to pay less) but want more space! My projects mean a lot to me. I am not able to work on some of them as much as I like. I have to coordinate with my parents to work on projects at their garage and I don't have a space to leave it in mid project especially in the winter. I have to add in travel and clean up time into my project time so that cuts into my creative time.

~add to my project tool and crafty knowledge
If I have more space to work I could add to my skill set. Of course that means more tools, time and money to learn and use them . . . . hum.

~Sexy fun shoes that wont hurt my feet
Do I need to say more?

~Find a nice person
I want to find a person to spend time with. I embrace the quirky that is "me" and want to find that person who can see me for who I am and does not want to change me.

~Get the USA, the Congress, the World and Trade get back on track
need I say more?

~Have everyone Embrace diversity in all forms period
um yeah . . . .

~A new flat screen for my bedroom

I am not being greedy in wanting a new flat screen just because I got Kiki LeRue in the living room. The one in my bedroom is the TV we got to replace the one stolen when we went to Thanksgiving at my parents in 1985. Yes, my JVC 20 inch Flat Front panel screen is older than Wil. It has been slowly dying for the last couple years but is really trying to quit on me!

So I wanted to keep my list short this year. Hope you had a nice year and are looking forward to a little vacation time. Say hi to Mrs. Santa and say away from Mrs. Santa's sister - I hear she is unclean if you know what I mean.

Sincerely yours,

Diva

Surprise to me

I guess it's been a bit of time since I logged on to my laptop. I did not remember changing my desktop photo for the fall. The good and bad of having a semi smart phone. Well, I have been busy trying to get my parents house decorated for the holiday, cleaning for their annual holiday cocktail party and getting my place cleaned up and decorated for the holidays as well. Throw in a hormone migraine (3 days) that I had to keep moving during and working I have been busy! Did not even have time to work on the chair on my days off because of the migraine.

As for Christmas I almost have all the presents got and hope to wrap this week. I felt way ahead of Christmas in October but now feel behind again. I got some brain storms on what to get people this year so that is the bright side. I am working Christmas Eve and part of Christmas day. I actually had them off since I am on call and don't have to work any days I don't want to but Wil got more days to work recently so now he works both! Wil has to work shortened hours on Christmas Day so I picked up part of a shift. I had less days this week so this should make it right. We are heading to my parents for a short Christmas Day celebration that eveing.

Tomorrow on my day off Wil and I are making a day of it. We are going food shopping then to the Muppet Movie. Should be a nice day.

Happy day of Family Food Feast

Happy Thanksgiving! Today is our family feast and giving of Thanks. Thanksgiving is not really about the food but it is a nice bonus. My mom is a great cook. I should be in total coma after we get home this evening.

I am thankful for all that I have accomplished since living on my own. I do work hard but am so grateful I can do it. To be able to pay bills, have my family, express my creativity, bike and make my home the way I enjoy it is priceless. I truly am thankful daily.

Wil found us an awesome Black Friday internet deal. We got a 37 inch flat screen (1080p, HD, LCE LED) and blue ray player for under $500. I am finally able to get the silver and black elephant out of my living room! The room looks so much bigger and feels bigger now! I was also able to move the entertainment center back 8-10 inches so we have more walking room. I woke up at 3am and went out to see it again. I am a goof. We are gaving the elephant to Wils friend Cory. I could have sold it on CL but I would rather pass on the good fortune.

Got my Lemon Cypress tree back from my parents. It grew massive in the burbs! I spent most of my day off Wednesday (while waiting for my packages) rearranging the garden, trimming back the tree then putting on the lights and beads I got last year. I sure enjoy looking out at it all pretty.

The over time has stopped for now so I will have more time to work on my chair, the apartment and fun. There will be more in the near future but until then I will be thankful for free time.

Happy Winter!

Today there was no rain to excuse me from exercise. I have not gone biking for 3 months! I was sick for soooo long and then tired everyday for days! I am glad I went but boy it was cold! I do have all the winter riding gear so that works well. My bottom is not used to riding . . . at 7 miles my backside was done but the rest of me was a couple miles from home. I did not ride as fast or as far as usual but it felt good to be out. Biking oh how I have missed you!

It's snowing! I know it wont stick but I do love watching it snow. The bridge is almost obscured by the snowfall. It makes it feel even more like Christmastime. I have decorations up and even got all the boxes back in the storage unit. I like having it decorated and tidy. I cant believe that it is less than a week until Christmas! Happy Holiday to all!

My Christmas adventure

The weather tried to cancel Christmas but you cant keep the Irish (Swedish, German . . ) down. I was going to try to get my car out to go to my parents but it started to blizzard again around 1pm! We were supposed to be there at 2ish. I was already snowed into my parking spot and the snow plow really helped with a extra bank of snow. My brother could not drive me and Wil since he had a passenger already and his car is a four seater. My Dad was not helping with the cooking (better that way) and my mom needed her sous chef (Wil) so he came with a shovel to help get my car out. Once he arrived and saw how much snow was on the roads and in the parking spots (or burying the cars) of my hood he said he would be our taxi. He picked us up around 1:45. I'm glad for that since I do not like to drive with the crazies on the snowy road anyway. Once we were off the side streets it was mostly clear or at least a path.

I had seen a lot during this storm taking the bus and MAX back and forth but I was still surprised how much snow was around the city. We just don't get this type of snow here!

We had a nice time just kicking back at my parents. Everybody was content to eat good food, enjoy the fireplace and watch stupid people trying to drive the side street outside my parents living room window. Probably the more relaxed holiday I have had in a long time. We headed for home around 8:15 since we were not sure of refreeze. The outside thermometer was working down to 32 so better safe than stuck. My mom came along for the ride since she has been snowed in for the whole time. She got out the last Tuesday before the big crippling snow hit. They did the Christmas dinner food shopping that day. Glad they did because it was a great dinner.

As for presents. I was extremely surprised and pleased to receive a cordless power tool set from my dad. He got up at 4am the day after Thanksgiving to stand in line at Home Depot to get this set for me. Drill, skill saw, hand held vac and flashlight. It comes with one battery and charger. It also included a tool box. (not for the set but regular) The bit set for the drill is crazy! I have drill bits for any job imaginable, screw bits of every job and it's in a cool roll up kit. I have already used the drill and vac for a small project. Very cool.

I hope all had a nice day and enjoyed the snow. Second white Christmas in a row.

Happy Christmas Everyone!

My lovely Henry (female Golden Retriever) was terrified of Billy Blitz (the cocky bird). The first time they met Billy was sitting on my ex's shoulder when we brought Henry into the kitchen. She had been a stray dog that my ex gave me. (abandon at the end of the school year.) She had obviously been trained. Anyway, Billy wanted to see what was going on from the comfort of the top of his cage. He forgot that his wings had recently been clipped. He did not get the loft he was used to and flew right by Henry's nose. She opened her mouth and soft mouthed him. (hunting dog style) We all yelled her name so she let go. Billy was not hurt but extremely pissed off. He was dropped on the couch next to his cage so he stalked (he had a way of stomping like he was Godzilla not six inches tall) to his cage and glared at all of us for bringing this hairy demon into his house. From then on Henry was terrified of Billy. Whenever Billy flew around Henry would hit the deck and try to liquefy into the ground. If she could in her flattened state she would slink from the room. Billy took great advantage of this. He would land on the floor and stomp over to her and eventually walk over her. What an asshole. I took this photo in 1982. My favorite dog and bird in front of my favorite collectible, Snoopy. My then boyfriend now ex was studying abroad for six months and could not come home for Christmas.

Henny was the best dog I ever had.

Merry Christmas Eve

This is a oil painting my mom painted of Henry. This was not a photograph but insightful look at Henry. She was a very intuitive dog. She knew when you were having a hard time. She would try to climb in your lap. She also did not understand why she did not fit. In her mind she was a tiny dog and did not know where the big dog in the mirror came from. She was not afraid but curious.

My love of Snoopy continues. I have a wonderful collection but currently no place to show them off.
This CD is really wonderful to listen to. It has the music from the show and more.

All the snow we have got these past days have been crazy amazing. We don't normally get this much snow but what is more amazing is the amount of snow I have in my hood. I am at 50 ft or less above sea level since I live right by the Willamette river. When the Portland hills get a few inches I usually have some floating flakes but none sticking. We have had several inches!

I took a taxi ride (a crazy story I will get to in the next couple days) to get to work yesterday morning but a bus home. There is a bus that tootles all over the city. My friend from school that got hired on at my pharmacy showed my were to catch this bus. When we got Downtown I was surprised by the amount of snow there and the all the people. I got off the non moving bus in the bus mall and hoofed it up the trolley. As I was hiking the several blocks uptown I was stunned. I suddenly felt as if I was in a made for TV movie set about Christmas. I have not had this happen in my adult life here in Portland. We have had smaller storms but I stayed home. It was really pretty cool. The things I saw were amazing. The roads Downtown normally three lanes one way are two in the middle with plowed banks of snow on the sides. Even my two way street outside my building are two lanes in the middle and the parked cars (like mine) are stuck in a snow bank. The snow bank is part snow plow and part all the snow we have got the last 10 days. I dug my car out yesterday in hopes things were going to be better for traveling this morning. Nope.

As I have been typing this it has not stopped snowing. We are to get another two to four inches before it gets to 34 degrees. Right now at 10 am it is still 27 degrees in DT Portland. When it warms up it will switch to rain. As it goes to evening and cools off it will turn to snow again and all the moisture on the ground will freeze. We may get freezing rain which means I will be stranded at work. I work this evening. I will take Tri-met to work but signed up for the labor pool to get home. I'm not sure if it will be Security or someone else that works in the hospital. They have a command center for rides and people needing a bed for the night. I hope I make it home tonight.

Unless the weather gets drastically better we wont be celebrating Christmas tomorrow with my family. My parents have been snowed in from the beginning. I don't have chains and my brother cant drive us since he has an extra person in his car. We will get together when possible. Wil and I can hang and nibble on the spiral cut ham I got from work. I think 12 pounds will hold us during the "Deep Freeze '08". I have hash browns in the freezer and eggs in the fridge. We shall feast tomorrow!

Happy Christmas.