Overwhelmed
I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed. I took down my wall calendar here at work to write in what's going on in July, August, September, October, and things are already too full for my liking. Most of the things are fun things, but I get overwhelmed thinking about all the planning I have to do for them.

July:
3-attending birthday party for friends' 2-year-old (no planning)
3-staying around the house until the new washer/dryer are delivered
10-throwing baby shower for a friend (still need to organize/plan for food, furniture rearrangement and getting more chairs)
sometime-need to coordinate with tile guys (when installing? Do we need to buy the grout and stuff ourselves? What about the baseboards and carpet--will they take those up or do we need to?)

August:
7-doing things for Jon's birthday (August 3) (everything's set)
21-throwing baby shower for a friend (still need guest list from her; will buy materials and make invitations and need to plan the rest of the stuff. Thankfully, all the guests will be different from the July shower, so I can do the same foods and decorations; will probably even make the same invitations since her baby is also a boy)

September:
3-12-going on trip to Germany (packing and getting ready for trips like this sometimes make me anxious. Will need to get a little something to bring to our friends)
25-throwing large bridal shower for a friend (have started planning this one but am frustrated with the lady who offered to help and offered her backyard/garden as location. Respond to my e-mails, lady! I will do invitations, games, vases for flowers, one food dish, coordination of other helpers, more?)

October:
15-18-going on cruise (this doesn't make me as anxious as the Germany trip because it isn't as long, but it is the weekend before this next thing)
23-bridesmaiding in wedding (need to decide if dress fits OK or if I should get it altered...it's borderline and looks OK if I stand up super straight, which I never do. Need to find out which days I'm going to have to take off work for pre-wedding activities. Gift? Shoes? This day is also Lucy's 18th birthday)

Random thoughts
So things are actually setting in that annoying salesperson Kate is actually gone. Her last day was about 2 weeks ago. I'm loving this. I'm no longer wondering if I really want to answer my phone when it rings. My heart no longer drops when I receive a new request and wonder who the salesperson is. This is great!

Our floor tile finally came in. We bought 700 square feet of the stuff back in November (that's right, 7 months ago) and were told it was out of stock but would be in by January. Obviously, January came and went, and so did February, March, April, May... In May we went in and picked a new tile that was more expensive (but we didn't pay anything). That one was out of stock too, but it just came in this past week. They're delivering it for free today... I'm not too impressed with their customer service. But pretty soon we'll be able to get rid of our 1977 brown carpet. Yay!

I still can't wait to do laundry. The washer and dryer are being delivered on Saturday.

My husband is working so hard. It's definitely wearing on him that the company isn't doing much better. He's putting in all this work without a whole lot of "return on investment." :( I made some of his favorite food (my meatloaf, which I never had growing up but which isn't too bad, and my mom's potato casserole, and salad too) last night because I see how hard he is working and I love him.

Lucy
I just found out that Lucy did get into the school she wanted to go to! She applied last year to James Madison University (JMU) and George Mason University (GMU), but George Mason was just because she felt like she had to apply to more than one; she really wanted to go to JMU. All of her close friends also applied early decision to JMU and got in; Lucy got deferred/put on the waiting list. :( So she applied at the regular application time and again got put on the waiting list. If you know Lucy, you know that she doesn't get very emotional or too attached to anything; she's so easy-going. But she really wanted this. Only last month did they find out that her high school was reporting her GPA incorrectly (some of her honors classes in California didn't transfer over correctly to Virginia), so the high school did contact JMU to let them know of her higher GPA, but still nothing. Housing applications were due to the school for Fall '04 students last week, so when that date came and went, I think Lucy just resigned herself to being happy about GMU.

Then today, she got a phone call: she's in! JMU, here she comes! I'm so excited for her. She's going to major in Political Science, thanks to an amazing teacher this year at her school.

Well we did it... we bought way above what we were planning for the washer and dryer, but I am so excited. I love them. And we got 12 months 0% financing plus free delivery and $250 in (possible) energy rebates (possible because they're first come, first served).

Whirlpool Washer:

Whirlpool Dryer:


I can't wait to do laundry!

I'm sitting here during my favorite time of week! Friday late afternoons are the best... just an hour left of work (um, and blogging counts as work), plans for a relaxing weekend, sleeping in on Saturday.

I bought a print of "America the Beautiful" by Wendy Wegner last week, and I got a frame for it this week. It has all of the colors I like (reds, blues, and greens), but this is the first "folk" kind of art I've gotten. I'm going to have to get used to it! I got a very simple dark wood frame for it and hung it above the couch in the living room (took down all the other stuff that was there except for a plate).

Countdowns
Baby shower I'm throwing for Kim: 15 days
Jon's 27th birthday: 39 days
Trip to Germany: 70 days
3-day cruise to Baja: 112 days

So, we need a new washer and dryer. My parents gave us their old ones when we bought our house, because they were moving across the country and wanted new ones themselves. So these 20-year-old machines have been working just fine (though only one cycle--out of four--on the washer works, and only two work on the dryer). I think the machines crossed the line, though, when the dryer door broke, and now we are using a cardboard tube to hold the door closed while clothes dry. It's kind of ghetto but funny. Sears has a 12-month, 0% financing deal going on right now (and free delivery), so I think we're going to head over there this week to check out our options.

Dream sets below!

Noooooooooo!

Which "Saved By The Bell" Character Are You?
I never wanted to be Jessie! And I've never been addicted to caffeine pills. :)

Thanks to Lori for finding this quiz.

We saw "Shrek 2" this weekend and really enjoyed it. I think the first one was better overall, and I don't remember as much adult humor being in the first one (Pinnochio: "I'm wearing women's underwear." [nose doesn't grow] Gingerbread Man: "You really are wearing women's underwear!" Pinnochio: "No I'm not!" [nose grows] Gingerbread Man: "It's a thong!"), but it has been a while since I've seen it.

Including the movie, we had a good weekend. I met with Katrina (college roommate; soon to be wed friend) for lunch on Saturday. And we went to Scott and Kim's for a Father's Day barbecue.

No appreciation
That's what our department gets. The CEO sent out a company-wide e-mail today to thank some people for the success we had at a trade show this week. Now I personally didn't do anything for the show, but 3 of our department members did weeks' worth of work on it, developing custom collaterals, presentations, tabletops, etc. But because some other people in our company, whose position titles and department titles have changed to be internal (no longer Marketing!--their department is now Employee Development), have held onto the task of actually attending the trade shows because it's fun and they didn't want to give it up, they get the thanks. The CEO didn't even mention our department, let alone the 3 girls who did so much work. "THANKS again to [employee #1 who didn't do anything] and [employee #2 who didn't do anything] for handling the AHIP exhibit preparations," he writes. Grr! Yeah, folks, our department is relatively small (17 of us), but we do a lot and no one even notices?!

Countdowns
Next haircut: 2 days
Baby shower I'm throwing for Kim: 23 days
Jon's 27th birthday: 47 days
Trip to Germany: 78 days
3-day cruise to Baja: 120 days

Current mood
Bored but worried about work I'm avoiding

Listening to
Bebo Norman, "Myself When I Am Real"

VA trip
Our trip was short but fun, relaxing, and good. We got in late on Thursday (plane got in around 9:30 p.m. and we rented the car and drove 3 hours to Lynchburg). On Friday, we tried (unsuccessfully) to get up early to adjust to the VA time and then spent the day helping with last-minute preparations for the party that night (80th birthday party for both of my grandparents). The party was good and was much better once the thunderstorm came along and cooled things down (it was so humid...made me appreciate CA). All of Nannie and Pop's kids and grandkids (I guess meaning those hosting the party) had nametags so the guests could know how we were connected to Nannie and Pop. I was "Meg's Katie" and Jon was "Meg's Katie's Jon."


On Saturday, we slept too late again and got up in time to have an early lunch and go to Lucy's high school graduation. All I have to say is "bless you" to my parents for sitting through three of those things! The ceremony was in a big auditorium, and people clapped politely when their child's name was called. Then Lucy's name was called, and Greg let out a big holler. It was quite funny. Jon, Greg, and I went to Dairy Queen after the ceremony and then headed back to my parents' house to pack up our things, because we were going to spend the rest of our visit out at Hanshill (the house in the country). We did have Lucy's graduation dinner at the house first, and that was one of the nicest times--out on my parents' screen porch, with good food and candelight. My parents gave Lucy a computer for graduation; Greg gave her a custom-made necklace (with a diamond from a great-grandmother's piece of jewelry); Jon and I gave her a computer videocam, a new Bible (with red and oragne suede), and a devotional book. Congratulations, Lucy!

On Sunday, Greg, Lucy, and I played tennis at Hanshill (Greg beat Lucy and me 6-2, 6-4, despite his tendency to do double-hitties). Then the guys shot guns (shotgun, .357, and a pellet gun). Nannie and Pop came out for dinner. It was a fun day, mostly spent relaxing and talking. We stayed up to watch the Lakers-Pistons game, but I went to bed at halftime (Jon came down to the cabin with me, though, to kill all of the camel crickets I could find, and then he went back up to the house to watch the rest of the game).

On Monday, it still wasn't hot enough to go swimming in the pond or clear enough to go for a good drive, but we had a good time relaxing around Hanshill. Mama, Lucy, and I paddled around the pond in the boat (well, they paddled while I kept my eye out for spiders, because I'm a wimpy city girl). Jack (the dog) tramped through the woods and kept up with us; he scared a huge frog into the pond. Jon waited on the dock with a gun, hoping to see something to shoot (a dove, a beaver) but with no luck. We had Silver Pig barbecue for dinner, and that was very fun. We laughed pretty hard at Greg's impression of what he would do if he went into Daily Bread, the place Mama volunteers at that serves lunch to the homeless, to try to get a free lunch. "I carry boards..." (I guess you had to be there.) He also gave a good impression of the ladies at the hamburger place that stays open 24 hours: "Cheesy, all the way, going!" That night, Jon again humored me and came down to the cabin to kill all the new camel crickets. I am so glad I married a husband who not only isn't scared of all those bugs, but also who doesn't get annoyed that I meticulously search a room and point out all the bugs for him to kill!

Here's a picture of a camel cricket (they are so gross):


On Tuesday, we left Hanshill at 6:15 a.m. to make it to Dulles in time for our 11:15 flight. We made it with plenty of time to spare. Our flight got in to LAX a little early (around 1:00), and we got home right at 3:00 to a clean, empty house!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I unpacked, did 3 loads of laundry (after Jon fashioned a little thing to keep the broken dryer door closed), went by Sears to pick up our finished 2nd anniversary pictures (and bought a new skirt and shirt while I was there!), did the week's grocery shopping, cleaned the windows in the 2nd bedroom and put up the original curtains (the toile ones--I had made some darker denim ones to put in there for the past 9 weeks), and had dinner with Jon (he did hamburgers on the grill and I did the fixings and some fruit for fruit salad). We ate while we watched the Lakers lose the last game of the finals! It felt great to get that all done, and we went to bed easily at 9:45 or so. I feel completely back on CA time--I woke up once at 4:30 this morning, but then slept until the alarm went off and got up at 7:00.

Bored at work with random thoughts
The last couple of weeks were so busy at work that this week is dragging! Yesterday, I got a lot of things done that had been put on the backburner (oh how I hate that cliché, but, well, there it is in my writing). But I also did some Internet surfing, which I do all the time at work but I know is so stupid since my employer has access to my computer over the network and knows everything I do on it! I remember someone saying that the president of our company joked last year that the most visited website of 2002 was Monster.com (job website)... which is funny since our company is really great and I think we have above average employee retention/tenure rates.

I wish this weekend's trip to VA were a little bit longer. After the parties/graduation festivities, there will really only be 2 days of regular visiting. But I guess that's better than nothing. I realized this past weekend that I only talk to my dad once every few months. That isn't good. My mom and I talk most every day over e-mail (though only every couple weeks on the phone). And I don't really talk to Greg and Lucy very often either. The problem is that we aren't phone people. None of us really likes talking on the phone (I passed that phase in junior high).

I have been having pangs of wanting to be pregnant. I guess it's because it's happening all around me with our friends (many on their second child already!--Scott and Kim's 2nd is due August 8; Rob & Kristen's 2nd is due in October or November; Fred and Susan's 2nd is due September 15; Ricci and Joe's 1st is due November 1). But then I do remember how much I enjoy all the time Jon and I get together, and all the fun little trips we're taking this year and the things we get to do on the spur of the moment. And all the Saturdays I get to sleep in. So I can wait.

Mood: Antsy
Music: Chris Rice, "Run the Earth, Watch the Sky"

Leaving
Our trip to Virginia is the day after tomorrow. We'll be gone June 10-15. My grandparents' 80th birthday party (combined party for both Nannie and Pop) is on Friday, and Lucy graduates from high school on Saturday. I wish we could stay longer, but missing 4 days of work is a lot for Jon! I'm really looking forward to going out there though... too bad we'll miss corn on the cob (too early)!

I'm leaving after work today for our church's weekend Women's Retreat. It's up at Forest Home this year like it was last year. Last year, we had a neat set of 3 nice-ish cabins, but I don't think we got those this year...so bunk beds, here we come! I’m not expecting too much out of this weekend, really. The one last year was OK, but the most fun part about it was that my good friend C went, and she and I got to know each other really well. She was supposed to go this year but dropped out a few weeks ago, but Amy and Lissa (the only other 2 marrieds without kids besides C and me at church) are going. The 3 of us are driving up together this evening after work. But the retreat itself was just OK last year--the girl who led the music was all about making sure we heard how pretty her voice is (she brought a microphone even though there were only about 20 of us there) and the teaching was very shallow (more just a lot of stories and no meat). We’ll see if it’s better this time.

Wonderful news!
Annoying salesperson took me aside yesterday "to talk." I thought, "OK, she's either going to lay out all the things I did wrong on her last proposal, or she's going to talk about one of my coworkers and didn't want them to hear it." But no! She told me that she has submitted her 2 weeks' notice! What?! Yes! I said, "But you're doing so well here!" (and she is--she's the #3 salesperson in the company). But, apparently, this new "opportunity" was too good to pass up. I had to make a conscious effort to stop smiling and act disappointed. This will make my working life a lot nicer. :) :) :)

Our trip
We had a great weekend!

Saturday - We left around 10:30 from our house. Because we hit some traffic, we stopped in downtown Ventura for lunch at the Busy Bee Cafe. Then, we continued our trek up the coast and made it to Buellton (where we stayed) by 4:00. We unpacked and relaxed a bit, and then we headed into downtown Solvang (a 5-minute drive from our hotel). We walked in and out of the gift shops and enjoyed the nice weather. We went back to the hotel to get ready for our dinner reservation at Mattei's Tavern, a really neat restaurant with delicious food. We decided to take the long way to the restaurant since we had extra time, and it was worth it!


This dinner was our all-out anniversary celebration, so got all we wanted: good glasses of wine, a delicious baby greens/poached pear/candied walnut salad for an appetizer, fantastic entrees (I got the 6-ounce filet and potatoes au gratin with caramelized onions; Jon got the Copper River salmon with rice pilaf and tomatillo salsa), rich desserts (warm, rich chocolate souffle cake for me; strawberry shortcake for Jon), and coffee.


Sunday - After sleeping in, we went to Solvang and ate at the Belgian Cafe so Jon could have strawberry crepes. I had a great omelette. Then it was on to more window shopping. In one of my favorite stores, I got a pair of little stud earrings (cheap!) and a cute Americana wall hanging to put on our front door for the summer (it says "Let Freedom Ring" and has a little bell on the side). Next, we drove the long way to Gainey Vineyard and made it just in time for the 1:00 tour of the winery. We also bought some swiss cheese and did the wine tasting after the tour--a fun first for both of us.


After finishing at Gainey, we decided to explore the main road, so we drove for a half hour or so and ended up stopping at the La Purisima Mission. Although I wasn't dressed appropriately (I had on newish sandals that got really dirty since there were no paved paths), the mission was very interesting. I especially liked seeing the different living quarters--the guest room was by far the nicest, and, surprisingly, the priests'/fathers' rooms were among the most sparce (or the sparcest?). After the mission, we continued driving to see what Lompoc was like. It wasn't much. So we kept driving and hit the ocean. We took a nice walk on the sand and decided we were exhausted! We drove back to the hotel and rested. We chose to go to dinner at the nearby sushi place, and we were pleasantly surprised by how good it was (one giveaway was that there were mostly locals there). I'll definitely get the Volcano again if we are ever back in Buellton. After dinner, we did more exploring; Jon enjoyed racing around some corners on the back country roads, where we passed no more than 2 cars. To close out the night, we went to Andersen's Pea Soup for coffee and dessert. What a fun day!


Monday - We got up a little earlier this day to pack and check out, and then we went to the Greenhouse Cafe at Petersen Village (in Solvang) for breakfast--yum! We got in the car to head south by 10:30, and we missed all the traffic! We even made a pit stop in Ventura to visit Jon's grandpa Ray for an hour or so. We made it home by 3:00.

We had such a great trip! Thank you for planning it, Jon. :)