Finally a chance to blog.

So much to do... um... too little people to get to do it for me.

Movies recently viewed:

Syriana - Overall I give this movie 3.75 stars, I liked it but the ending message didn't really get me. Maybe I am one of those overly desensitized American prats that we read about but I just wasn't really moved by this one. First off it was slow and was dangerously close to being like "The New World". However, a few shocking developments later I was glued. It still took me 3/4 of the movie to figure out the plot (if you can call it that). The redeeming factors were George Clooney and Matt Damons' performances and it really made me think about my own greedy oil consumption.

Pink Panther - 1.5 stars. Steve Martin is a very funny guy but the guy who co-wrote this with him is not. The parts that should have been funny are completely lost to the dry acting by the inexperienced Beyonce and over experienced Kevin Kline and Jean Reno. This was a vapid and forgettable comedy.

Failure to Launch - 3.5 stars. Moderately amusing, so-so acting, I do love Sara Jessica Parker. There are a few bits of unusual slapstick involving wild animals that makes this just quirky enough to keep watching.

Garage Sale! For the move to Missouri I will be having a garage sale on July 21-22. I have already accumulated 2 boxes of crap that I never knew I had. Where does this stuff come from?

Update on Dad: Things are going well overall. This last dose of chemo is really kicking his butt though. Hopefully they will harvest his stem cells in the next 2 days and he will get a break for a few weeks.

Check out these blogs:

Iheartichoke (Danelle) and Prometheus Returns (Pastor Mike)and Chef Messy

and finally...

This is what happens to mommy when she's in trouble with Melody.

The Un-domestic godess

Ok so I stole the title of this post from a novel but it fits me well today. As you may have read above I truly believe that dishes should magically walk themselves into the dishwasher and then magically walk themselves into the cupboard. This is also evidence of my negligent blogging of late. I had my Uncle Otto in town from Thursday to Sunday and coupled with our heatwave (90+ in Seattle is a big deal) I haven't wanted to do anything. So we did the touristy stuff and what-not. My dad is Harley man (who can blame him?) and Eastside Harley in Bellevue was having a grand reopening. This was a lot of fun. I love looking at the sleek sexy bikes and dream that one day I too will own one. Melody took a ride on the mechanically coin operated bike outside the shop and I had to pry her off of it. She cried "I want a motorcycle! I want a motorcycle!" all the way to lunch. I reminded her that Mommy wanted one too but this did nothing to disuade her. I have seen those little battery operated ones at toy stores. Now, how to justify buying one for her birthday??? No I don't spoil my child one bit....See following photo that resulted after this heated debate at Big Lots the other day.
Mel: Me want it.
Mom: Whats that Mel?
Mel: I want it.
Mom: You have to tell Mommy what it is and remember to say Please.
Mel: Pla-dow, Pla-dow (yes that is how she says Play-Dough)
Mom: Well we can't right now Mel. Mommy doesn't have the money for new toys.
Mel:(screaming) I want Pla-dow! I want Pla-dow!
Mom: NO you have toys at home. And no screaming or we go home now.
Mel: (Big doe eyes & puckered lips) Wease Mommy? I wuv you!! Wease Pla-Dow!

15 Minutes later....

How do these people stay employed?

Have you ever met someone that you are just amazed that they've managed to hold on to thier job as long as they have? I work with several of these such people. Most of them are older than myself and have been at the same position for around 10 years. I just suppose that is why they are still in the same job while the rest of the world passes them by. Dumb does not begin to describe them. They drive me crazy. How, HOW, HOW!!! is it that these people don't know a basic function of thier job after supposedly doing it for SOOOO long? How is it that I do? One such ameoba asked me today how to type a letter in Word and print it on our letterhead so they could send it to a client. Now computers have been in use in our office since before I graduated high school and this person has been in our office since then. How much have they been bribing the boss every year to stay employed?

Fleece Blankie and Fabulous Shoes

Fleece Blankie
So this is my first ever fleece blanket. (Yeah I know I am behind the trend) I never tried this because I myself am not a big fan of fleece. Unfortunately I took my 2 1/2 year old daughter with me to the fabric store. She is a CARE BEAR FREAK. So when she saw this I couldn't resist. It has brought her so much joy it was well worth it and it was super easy to make.


Fabulous Shoes I found these shoes on the internet. They are by Carlos Santana. Yeah I didn't know he did shoes either. These are "last season" so I got them for a steal of $30. I think that Macy's sells his line. I love them they make me feel ooh-la-la.

Missouri Update

Jack is like a little kid discovering the world for the first time. Being a born and breed city boy who hasn't gone much further east than Moscow, ID. He has informed me that he has seen his first skunk and deer and caught Fireflies for the first time ever. He was looking at COWS when he talked to me on the phone. He also informed me that he had to buy bug repelent because the bugs were eating him alive. This all made me laugh alot. He's such a hoot.

Larry Update (Dad)

Dad is doing fairly well he is on one week after they pumped him with a double dose of Chemo. Currently he has to check in at the Dr's everyday for blood tests and fluids. He is tired and exhausted and has the usual loopy feelings and nausea after chemo that is normal but annoying.

Pretty Paper and BIG NEWS

So my buddy Dacia sent me the cutest little care package! See the Pic? Lots of beautiful papers, a stamp, a fun little magnet, her hand made tags and some lovely ribbon. THANKS. I can do some fun stuff with it all.

Ok now the now the BIG NEWS...

Jack has just left for Missouri this afternoon. Missouri you ask? Yep. Work has been slow around here for him and most of my family will be moving there soon when my Dad's treatment is done. After weighing the good and the bad and praying a lot, we decided that if Jack can get good work we will move to Missouri. Yeah I know. EEEKKK. Basically, though we love Seattle, our church and all of our friends here, we will never be able to afford a house here, I will never be able to quit my job and take care of Mel and have more munchkins. Seattle is just too damn expensive. I would love to have a yard with a kiddie pool and a garden. Mostly at this time in our lives we feel that God is calling us to be near my family and Missouri is where they are going. My dads family is from there and a lot of my extended family is there. More to come regarding the move once Jack lands a job.

Of Cancer...

My dad is not well. He has a rare form of cancer. A rare T-cell Lymphoma. We found out a little over a year ago. For this whole year he has been going through treatment after treatment, chemo poisons after chemo poison unsuccessfully. Waiting is the hardest part, will it work, what next if it doesn’t. First we heard 95% chance, then 75%, then 60% then a maybe for a cure. My dad has had to try 6 different types of chemo. The last one was a last resort. All of this is for one goal to beat down this monster, this mystery so that a stem-cell transplant can happen. The saving grace. Autologous stem-cell transplant should give us, him, at least 5 more years. But we all know who’s decision that really is. My dad doesn’t believe. But I do so I pray every minute of every day that God’s will is that my friend, my dad, my daughters Papa doesn’t have to leave. Stem-cell transplant can be fatal too. It means weeks of Isolation, no kids, no pets, no plants, no immunity, and lots of pain. Getting close to the bottom and hoping these little minute solders of hope can regenerate health. It starts on June 12th. My parents 30th wedding anniversary. They were supposed to be going to Europe. Instead they’ve sold their house. Their life. They are transient. Temporary prisoners in a hospital hotel. Thank you Lord for Social Security. I continue to pray every day, every hour, every minute. Melody has the sniffles this week. Sorry Mel we can’t go see Papa and Nana. A cold means 5 antibiotics and a week in the hospital. This makes me cry. So I pray some more. I feel suspended waiting, knowing I have no control, doing what I can, exhaustion. I praise my mom and her endurance, unwavering love for her husband, her unbreakable strength. Thank you Lord for that. No matter how awful this is I know we are not unique. Cancer affects Millions of us everyday. Some close to home, some friends in this church and it is not just cancer that can do this, and we know this. I want to say thank you to those who pray for my dad and my family and leave you with this simple verse that is the prayer I pray for hope for my dad and for others who need this type of hope. I pray for Zoe Faultner, who has not yet taken a breath in this world and already has a broken heart, I pray for Nicole, I pray for Eline, I pray for Jaylene and all others who need hope and healing.

“Heal me, O LORD, and I will be healed; save me and I will be saved, for You are the one I praise.” Jeremiah 17: 13-15.

Da Po' lice

So I walk out my front door this morning and see a cop in riot/raid gear standing in my parking lot. Greeaatt... I think, what now? So I slowly walk out and notice that there is another cop with a windbreaker standing on the other side of two cars also. This is weird for me because we have a pretty mild apartment complex. Granted half of the residents are probably illegal but for the most part everyone gets along, low crime, etc. So the cop in the gear catches my eye and looks at me like where you going? So I sign over to my car and she gives me the silent go ahead. They are creepily quiet. So I trott over to my car and strap Mel in and get myself situated and at this point they are both talking to each other about two of the cars in the parking lot. A red truck I know the hispanic family across the way drives everyday and a red ford that appeared in our lot 3 months ago and has no plates and never moves. Aahhh I think. So I as I drive out of the complex I can see the other side of the building and there are cops everywhere. Hmmm... So this evening both vehicles are mysteriously gone the apartment is dark and all of the other hispanic families are out talking amongst themselves. I really must take those Spanish lessons. It really stinks when you can't communicate with your neighbors. I just hope everyone is ok, regardless if they did commit grand theft auto my neighbors are pretty nice and have good kids.
I will be praying for their families and all tonight.

Pants!

I had 3 pairs of jeans that needed some love. The first pair were one of my favorites but they got a rip in the knee when I fell down some stairs. I can wear jeans to work but they can't have holes. So, I patched these with an iron on patch and embellished w/ a butterfly and some embroidery. I think it turned out pretty nice. The next pair tore in the butt along the pocket edge. I patched this with a bandana patch and white embroidery. The last pair is a new pair from the Gap that I got at such a steal I couldn't pass them up. $10! However, they are for someone at least 6' tall. I'm 5' 6". So I used my friend Dacia's how to hem jeans tutorial @ http://daciaray.com/?p=38 and they turned out alright. I had to hem 6"! The colors are a little weird so I might embelish with a ribbon to hide the difference. I am pretty proud of myself for these, it's the most sewing I've done in a very long time.

My Sisters Keeper

I love books. I plow through them like a fat kid with cake. I can't even count the number I've read. My most recent read is My Sister's Keeper : A Novel by Jodi Picoult. It is a heart-wrenching, I hope that never happens to me book. It is an intimate look at the drama that plays out when one family tries to save their daughter from a terminal disease and sacrifices anything and everyone to do it. It is told alternately from the point of view of all of the main characters. What really moved me about the book is that you can really feel the pain, shame, love and joy of each character. This book also hit close to home for me because my dad is currently fighting a rare form of T-Cell Lymphoma. I didn't want to cheer for any one specific character but I wanted them all to be happy by the end of the book. I felt that the true battle played out on the pages isn't really between the characters in the book but more the internal struggle each of them has with their own need for self preservation and the moral obligation to save a person they love, no matter what. It is also a raw and touching look at how our love for our children molds and shapes us into different people than who we thought we were. Though the ending was a surprise for me I wouldn't change a thing. The only down side is, that like all books I love, it will probably be turned into a movie at some point. The story is that compelling. Anyone with a kid should read this book at least once. Anyone with a sick loved one should read this book twice. Five stars.