Harvey Graduates! (Two months ago)

It was so exciting. After eight weeks, Harvey had been taught all the things he already knew. And now it was time for graduation. The teacher promised the playing of Pomp and Circumstance and I wanted to make the occasion special. So I made Harvey a little cap and gown. I think the gold really sets off his eyes!

Now we are working on getting the barking under control!

I tried to wait the entire year...

Our family has these blogs going, and most everyone does really well in keeping up. Several months ago, I was harassed for it being "like, a year" since I last blogged. So I was determined to wait until it had been like, a year. I thought my last entry had been in June after visiting Robin. But that is not so.

And now the pictures of Harvey are piling up and he is only getting cuter. Now you've asked for it!

Here's Harvey, shortly after coming to live with us in his kitty cube. He still sleeps there at night.

And thanks to Kevin, Chanel and Mia for dropping by tonight. It was the highlight of the day!

Open mouth, insert foot

Sometimes I'm friendly. For the most part I don't want to talk to strangers, but there are moments I just can't seem to shut up.

Like Monday, we went to see Ghost Town (recommended). As we enter the theater, there is only one couple in the place. They happen to be retirement age. They express gratitude for our arrival because, they said, they "were afraid [they] were going to be the only people in the show."

We laughed and chatted for a moment. Then all eyes were on the twenty. Well, not really. I was texting, Jenn was playing tetris, and Sara was reading her book. They really should make the twenty more interesting if they actually want us paying attention to the big screen.

Then this Lexis commercial comes on touting the virtues of this car that can go up to 170 miles-per-hour. The gentleman behind us leans over to his wife and says, "What do you need a car that can go 170 miles-per-hour for?"

I'm clever, and these are my new friends, and sometimes I just don't know when to keep my mouth shut. So I turn to say, "So you can outrun the cops!"

Oh, aren't I funny? I mean who else but a supergenius comedian would come up with such a remark. The couple laughs at my humor. He says, "That's interesting. I spent 35 years in law enforcement."

I'm starting to wonder if there is a cream for my condition or if the cure involves serious drug-/psycho-therapy.

Haircuts

I've decided haircuts are funny things. If you get a dramatic short cut, everyone tells you it looks good even if they don't like it. If you have long hair and lose three or four inches, but it is still below your shoulders, no one notices. Well, not no one, but not the people you expect.

I got my hair cut this past Friday night. I wore it down and no one noticed. Then I wore it down to the Aunt Mary Jane's pool and no one noticed. Although I chalked that one up to it getting wet in the beginning. And then I wore it down to family dinner and no one noticed. So I put my hair up at the end of the meal. But I told Robin and Jeremiah on the way home. So they said very nice things about me.

But what is funny is that a woman at church who I haven't seen in three weeks or so, noticed.

I'm guessing that what was really going on was that I still looked so good that no one felt the need to say a word. So, in a nutshell, thanks for the compliment. It means a lot!

Rudeness, passively

The other day I saw this on a t-shirt at work:

I thought, does it make it any less rude because it is on a shirt?

Updates, updates!

I am here to "update" this blog only because Mom and Robin have been constantly harassing me to get my blog updated.

My question - Is once the same as constantly?

(Pictures to come soon. I must be ready for Crystal's triumphant return to Shelton!)

Making Mom jealous

For the end of May/beginning of June I went to Manhattan to visit Robin and her family. Whenever I would tell some one at work that I was going to visit my sister, mom would quickly correct me and tell them that I was going to visit her grandchildren. Thank goodness we all already know where we fall in line.

I found out upon my return that one of my co-workers asked her if I got there safe and if I was having fun. She told them yes and that it made her mad that I went without her. (She was kidding and it took the lady a second to get the joke. A very uncomfortable second.)

So I spent the week with Robin and Jeremiah and Kendall and Taylor and that made mom jealous. But there is one other thing that I know would have made her jealous:

We touched the lego version of the Pirate of the Carribean. She loves his music!

So, there is much still to tell about this trip to New York. I have decided to write about it in installments and post them instead of telling you what I did at work!

Hope you enjoy... and look for more to come!

A shout out from Don Quixote

One of the members of my ward is the musical director down at Capital Playhouse. Troy also directs shows from time to time. We were talking about a month ago when he told me that he was working on a production of "The Man of La Mancha" starring Jeff Kingsbury, Olympia celebrity and someone who has changed my diapers (or so he says.) I decided to go visit the east coast and realized that if I didn't go before I left, I wouldn't see it. Procrastination is a wonderful thing!

So I got myself on the waiting list. The Playhouse has very limited seating and it fills up pretty fast as the shows are excellent. But by the time Saturday came around, I wasn't in the mood to go to the show anymore. Matt called from the office and said that they had an extra seat and would I like to attend the show. I made up a very lame and transparent excuse and quickly got off the phone.

Not three minutes later, my phone starts to sing. I pick it up. "Sidse, this is Jeff." I knew I was in trouble. We talked and he told me that he had seen my name on the will-call list and told Matt that no matter what I was getting in. So I relented. I couldn't say no once I had been jumped to the front of the list. I cut my shopping trip with Sara short and went home to get ready for the show.

It was an amazing show. The actors did great, the music was great, I even got a little teary at the end. And during one scene, when Jeff was entering from the back of the house, he walked past me and groaned a low, "Siiid-seeee." I feel famous! (But only in Olympia.)

Those Crazy Drivers!

More than just about driving, I'll fill you in on my day. I have a rash, it got worse so I made an appointment. Randy, PA, looked at it and prescribed a cream. Then he listened to my cough because people are telling me I have bronchitis and I like to prove people wrong.

When he finished listening, I said, "I told them I didn't have bronchitis!"

He said, "I think you have bronchitis."

Three more prescriptions later and a surprisingly short trip to the pharmacy, I went home. Jenn and I went treadmill shopping tonight at Sears because they are having a sale. On the way there, a truck driver came zooming up behind Jenn's Bronco II and thought he would squeeze his full-size truck between us and the person zooming up in the lane next to us. But instead, he had to hit the brakes when he got to us because that tiny little gap he thought he could fit in closed. Unfortunately, his truck was light in the back, like they are. So he fish-tailed pretty dramatically and after throwing some pretty impressive mud around ended up in the ditch.

But he was out by the time we drove home, so it must have looked worse than it really was. We're just glad he missed us!

The Blue Plague

It has been quite a while since illness kept me from work for two whole days. This has been just gross! (Therefore, no pictures. No one needs to see that.)

Yesterday was the worst of it. I woke up and e-mailed work and finished the project that was due that day and e-mailed it in. Promptly, I returned to bed where I slept for another three hours. Called mom and went back to sleep for two more. Had cereal and hit the mattresses for another FIVE hours. Then, miracle of miracles, I stayed awake for the next hour and a half. (My rally point, it was very exciting.) Had half a piece of pizza and was down for two more. Watched Dancing With The Stars elimination (only death could keep me from it) and went back down. I don't think I have slept that much since infancy or drug-induced sleeping (anything with codeine and I seem to be out for 12 straight).

I've been alternating between sweating and freezing today, but I stayed awake, so I think I am on the road out. I didn't think I was going to make it, but by golly, with the love of family and friends I'm pulling through.

Wish me luck for back to work tomorrow. I'm gonna need it around 11!