The new cable...

All things worth having come with work and challenges. The cable guy was over 20 minutes past his 2 hour window. Good thing I have a gazillion other things to be doing while I waited! But once he arrived he got our cable boxes installed and off we went. Except for the snag of having the cable box talk to the TiVo (or really, take orders from Marfa, our TiVo). Fortunately, Dad doesn't throw anything away - it's just a trick of figuring out where that one little cable is in the massive garage. At one point during the installation a head lamp was involved - but my Dad is always looking for excuses to wear his head lamp - so there you go.

Finally, it's all good. And I'm sure you're asking yourself - what did you watch first? And I'll tell you what I watched: GUTS on Nick GAS. That's right...the competition for kids on Nickelodeon. It was hilarious to watch it again - since, yes, I totally watched it back in the early 1990's. Sad and Awesome at the same time!

I've also set the TiVo to record two other old time faves:Finders Keepers - anyone else remember this one?

You might remember Olmec from Legends of the Hidden Temple. Even as a youth I loved me some game shows!

Something to check out...

I don't know if this kind of thing interests you - but I think it's very cool. Check out Learning To Love You More and see if you can do one of the assignments. I think I'm going to be working on number 30, number 45, and here is my submission for number 50 to start...

Big News!

Today is such a big day! The cable man is going to arrive any minute with our new upgraded digital cable. For some reason we'd just been content to have regular old cable. But with all the beauty blooming around us in the warm Spring weather - we need a better reason to stay inside! So I called "the man" and we're getting all those channels that will be keeping us cool in the hot summer sun!

Once we attach this bad boy - there is no telling what we'll watch! Bring on the Bravo! Bring on the Game Show Network! Bring on the BBC America! HURRAH!!!

Swaps...!

I've been very remiss in not thanking my swap partners of late...but I'd like to show off the happy mail I've received lately!

First was the "Box Swap" at Create A Connection. I got this beautiful box, with a gorgeous picture of some orchids and then the box was filled with all the goodies you see here:

Thank you so much, Sara!

Then was the "Favorite Mints and Gum Swap" at Swap-Bot.com where I got not only some great Orbit gum and some Starbucks Peppermints - but some really cute stickers...

Thanks, Michelle!

Decisions, decisions

So, my car needs a new gearshift knob (yes, laugh now...it out of your system...) and I've been trying to find a nice replacement. I ordered a brochure from the E. Parrella Company in Medway, MA. But right now I'm trying to choose between two:The silver one in this picture

OR

The purple one in this picture

What do you think? I'm really leaning toward the silver one, as the whole rest of my car is silver and I think the silver would look good with the disco ball.

Now I have a reason...

I never thought I'd want to move to the South. But DayJet may actually be a reason to move there. Also - this would be when I have plenty of funds...but we have to dream, right?

A plea for help...

Dear friends -
As I am getting close to graduation - I'm no longer interested in my school work (bad) but I'm really trying to compile a list of books to read once I can read for fun again...

So please send a long some book recommendations - I'm making a list! Gotta be organized about these things...

Sadness...

Today I discovered that my SuperDrive will no longer keep any kind of disk in it. It makes bad noises and then spits them back out. After diagnostics...it's a broken drive. And they'll need to send it away for repairs. I honestly don't know if I can be without Trusty Rusty for any real amount of time. It's just part of who I am now.

The good news is that it doesn't effect the other wonderful things my iBook does. So, once I've finished my final projects - I will send him away. I guess it's true what they say - if you love something...send it to Tennessee for repairs...and if it comes back...it was meant to be.

Sending off happy mail...

Today I mailed my "box" swap stuff...but I won't post pictures of what I sent until I know she's gotten it. Nothing like ruining a surprise on the Interwebs.

Swaps...my newest addiction. You should check out the Swap-bot.com to see all the various swaps going on. Earlier this week I mailed off my "favorite gum and mints" swap - sending a pack of Orbit Bubblemint and a tin of AltoidsRaspberry Sours to a woman in Australia. Can't wait to see what I get...

A baking experiment...

Today I made shortbread for the first time. I mean, who doesn't love shortbread, right? And it turned out great! I'm so excited and this was just so easy. Except for cleaning up - because cleaning up is always the hardest part.

If you'd like to try it your ownself...

Shortbread from The Baker's Cafe in Katonah, NY

• 1 1b. butter, softened

• 1 cup sugar

• 3 cups flour

1. Blend butter and sugar. Add flour until dough forms.

2. Divide dough into thirds.

3. Roll out dough onto well-floured board to about 1/8-inch thickness. Cut out with round cookie cutters or the mouth of a juice glass.

4. Place cookies on cookie sheet lined with parchment paper and bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes. Edges should be slightly brown.

5. Cool and store in airtight containers. Will stay fresh for a month or even longer!

UPDATE: this makes A LOT of shortbread. So if you just need 'some' - half these amounts...

Beaverton Farmer's Market

Today was the opening day of the Beaverton Farmer's Market. It was a perfect Oregon morning and Dad and I got up to be at the Market at 8:00 a.m. There were just enough booths and tons of beautiful flowers and produce. And, apparently, basting jelly. What? What in the world is basting jelly?
(P.S. What do you think of my new glasses?)

The news has come to cover the big day!
And yes, my Dad is wearing a suit - he had to work this morning at 9:00 a.m.

Okay...uh...

So - my mom...she's got this new habit of falling asleep whilst surfing the Interwebs. Funny.

Who I miss today....

Oh, Mother's Day...

Transcript of today's phone call with my mother, Trixie:

Miss Five: "...and what do you want with the steaks?"

Trixie: "Baked potato."

Miss Five: "Oh, why do you hate me?" (because Miss Five is not a fan of baked potatoes)

Trixie: "Because I'm the Mom."

So - that's why she hates you, folks. She's the mom and she can hate you if she wants to.

Uh...

Sometimes I think I should just keep my opinions to myself, but someone has got to be the voice of reason

Buy some new bed pillows. Why are you holding on to that bag of your own sweat and dead skin? Gross.

Don't walk into a room where people are watching their stories and no one is eating, and start eating. Unless you have some for them to eat - and they want to eat it.

Send more fun mail. Don't assume that people just "know" you think of them and love them.

Post-Its are more structurally sound when the sticky part is at the top. Why do people think it's the other way around?

Plan trips - with itineraries and everything. Even if you can't go today, you are ready to go when you can.

Go out of your way - and make a big deal of things. So much of each day is a hassle - we need to make a big deal about every happiness and success. Going out of your way shows people that you are willing to do more than just say "Hooray!" for them.

Looking good...

I went to the eye doctor today, and despite my scare of eye cancer - got a clean bill of eye health. And I ordered new contacts and glasses...

All set...

I've ordered all my graduation regalia...oh...and these shoes...
A SAD UPDATE: The shoes arrived - as did the regalia. And despite being great shoes, they do not match. So back they go...Sad.

Oh no!!

I'm fully home now from Layton, Utah. The newest Malley babies wrapped their tiny fingers around my heart and are still pulling on them. I miss being there with Reyna and Seth and Bennett. I miss Penny and Potter...and Seamus wasn't really around enough for me to form an opinion. The Malleys really impressed me while I was there. They really are doing a magnificent job with their son and their new additions. Don't let them fool you - it's really hard work. They just make it look like they've been doing it forever.

I spent today getting back into my world. Cleaning, sorting, responding, watching. I did all those things today. I ran errands and did some initatories at the temple. I feel like I got a lot done and have a good handle on what the next six weeks will be like.

...and then I found that Neil Gaiman has a crazy awesome website. And there he keeps an amazing journal...which I am now fully addicted to reading. This is horrible!! I've got a pile of papers laying next to me on the bed - correcting pen waiting! I have never procrastinated judging people and yet here I am, reading further and further back in Neil Gaiman's archives.

If you're not familiar with the name, Gaiman is an author. Usually when I say the name, people say "Neil Diamond? I didn't know he wrote books." No, it's NOT Neil Diamond, whom I also love. Gaiman has written several books that are sort of modern fantasy morality tales. I'm glad I don't have to figure out where to file his books... One of my favorite books is one that he co-wrote with Terry Pratchett called Good Omens. FUNNY.