pinkwik

Ok- So I decided that if I’m going to have to look for a new job, that I will need some new clothes too… mainly shirts and blouses… something not black and tan or black with blue flowers on it. But when I got to JC Penney and Fred Meyer all the shirts they had had black as the main dominate color. Now, there’s nothing wrong with black, but I wanted something brighter. Something to wear during spring and summer. But everything seemed it was just off the trucks for fall and winter. I even tried Ross… where just last week I got these super cute pants with the super cute back pockets! LOVE them!

Anywho, My last stop was Macy’s. Now, I have a Macy’s card and all, but their prices are so out of my price range that I never ever shop there. Unless I find something on sale rack, and even then, it’s usually more that I really wanted to pay. Hey- I was scoffing at the price of the $14.99 pair of super cute jeans I got from Ross. When it comes down to it, I really hate to shop, and I really don’t like spending money….. but mostly… I hate shopping.

Again, everything ‘dressy’ at Macy’s had black in it. I know black goes with everything, but it just doesnt seem very summery or anything. I was just about to give up when a sales lady came to ask me if I was finding everything ok. I told her what I was looking for.. something with color…. and so she and this other sales gal started showing me clothes to try on… and they started me a room. Now, the shirts they were bringing me did still have black in them, and some of them even though they had color, they were darker colors, but some of the shirts they brought me were cute. Except for this one silky yellow, black and white shirt… made me look like a big fat bumble bee with ruffles. Cute I guess, just not the look I was going for.

So after they brought me all the shirts I thought were in the store, there had to be a million shirts in my dressing room. So, I tried on shirt after shirt, capri pant after capri pant. and after all of that I think I bought only 5 shirts. But it’s more than I started out with. All the shirts that I bought, I can wear to work, and a couple of them are more casual. But most of all, even though there is a black and white shirt, all the others are bright, and have lots of color. And, they’re super cute too!

I found that most every shirt out there is made the same way. V-neck with the panel or elastic that sits right below the girls…. you know what I’m talking about ladies… the babydoll type shirts. The ones that make you look pregnant when you’re the furthest thing from it. Now,  I get that we’re an overweight nation, and maybe this is a style that hides all those extra pounds really well, but I just dont like them. I’m a girl of 5′7″, and my weight is proportionate to my height, with no extra pounds to spare… but I do not care for a shirt that makes me look fat, or pregnant. This seemed to be the only style out there… what’s that about? Where’s the variety? What ever happened to the simple women’s dress shirt? Are they hiding them somewhere?

So after my shopping experience I called my boyfriend, and told him we would never need to worry about me shopping and spending all of our money, cause I hated shopping! Now, don’t get me wrong, I do love shopping for clothes for my son. And that’s good, because he’s 11, and doesnt have the whole style thing yet. I had to explain to him just yesterdat that when a man wears a button up shirt, he must always wear am under shirt. He’s sooo cute!

And I do have to say that over the last few years I have found a love for shoes. Precious, Precious shoes… and expensive shoes. I don’t buy these shoes, because I can’t afford them. I take that back. I CAN afford them, but I won’t spend that kind of money on something I wear on my feet. But I love to look at them… covet them… and dream about them. Now, if i ever get over spending money, then we’re in trouble, but until then… I’ll just keep saving my money… and not putting myself through the shopping nightmares.

No matter how old I get, I’ve decided there are just some things that I, as a woman, must do, no matter what.

Now, I know my friends, family and boyfriend may not understand my reasoning, but maybe someone else out there reading this will agree with me.

It never fails when I leave the house, looking less than presentable that I bump into someone I know, or someone who knows someone I know.  Every single freaking time!!

I was staying with my sister in Portland (no-not the cute one j :-)), and she asked if I was going to shower and all that before taking my son to the airport at 4am the next morning. I immediately said yes, but then after we talked about it a little more, I came to the conslusion that I wasn’t going to bump into anyone I knew at the Portland Airport at 4 in the morning. So why bother getting myself all dolled up, just to come back and go back to bed?

So the next morning I got up, brushed my teeth. Put my hair up in a clip, did the best job I could do with unshowered bangs, got dressed and was out the door. No shower, no makeup, no hair done just right. But I was proud I did it. I wasnt going to worry about who saw me… I had no one to impress…. I mean- who was going to be at the airport at 4 in the morning?

Well, so I was sitting there at the airport at 4 in the morning, when much to my surprise, the best friend of a guy who I had been seeing years earlier came up and said hi. Actually he came up and said “I know you don’t I?” Well, right there I could have died. I smiled back and said “yes.. yes you do.” After exchanging ‘hellos’, and meeting his new wife- they were off flying out for their honeymoon.

When I got back to my sisters house she was up and I had to tell her all about it. Told her I was sure he was going to tell the other guy he bumped into me and boy did I look like hell… and it would have been the truth!

Well, so this morning I said to myself… who was I going to see at the store while I got a coffee and some cat food? My loving and adoring boyfriend doesn’t understand a womans need to look presentable.. but bless him.. he’s a guy.

So there we are getting out of my car, he sees a couple getting out of their car, whom he and his ex wife knew. He’s told me about these people and how they’re a little anoying, and I’ve actually met the husband a few times, but never the wife. The wife works with the ex-wife- so I’m sure you can see where this might be going…. The guy seems nice enough, but then again, when you meet someone for only a few seconds it’s tough to really know anything about them, or how annoying they may or may not be.  And I didn’t want to see them, because of course my first thought is, OMG- my hair isn’t done, I don’t have any make up on, and I’m looking frumpy in my sweats…. and they’re going to go back to the ex wife and say.. “oh- we saw so and so this weekend, and man, is his new girl uuuuugllllyyy!”….. ‘You look so much better than she does”…. or “man, did he make a big step down after you”.

Ok- call me shallow, but as the new girl, you want to make an impression of the good kind.. not the man she’s scary kind.

Well, once my boyfriend sees this couple, he all of a sudden ducks sortof behind me and rushes me, almost in a walking fast sprint into the store where we proceed to walk as quickly as we can, without actually running, to an isle so we can hide out. And while hiding out, I found some really cute hair clips…..

 We wait there until it’s clear and we proceed as cautiously as possible through the store for the few items we came in for, do the quick self check out.. and we’re back out the door. A quick stop at the coffee shop, for coffee to go, and into my car.

I was actually surprised we didn’t bump into them on an isle.. thats usually what happens when you’re trying to avoid someone- you still end up bumping into them. And I guess you can’t very well, turn and run when you do see them round the end of the isle you’re on, coming towards you. I mean, I guess you could…… but that woud be a little too obvious I think.

So my lesson….(and I’m sorry honey) if I want a Starbucks coffee in the morning, I’m either going to have to put my sunglasses on, and go to the drive through over on 27th, or I’m going to have to drag my butt out of bed a little earlier and get all pretty to go to the Fred Meyers Starbucks so I can get groceries at the same time.

I have a trip to Africa coming up, and I wasn’t going to worry about make up and fixing my hair while on safari and all, but with my luck I’ll bump into someone else I know.. so I may have to rethink that one.

Ok- so I know Craigs List has been around for a while now… and I’ve been known to search it from time to time.. looking for the bargain of the century, or just a nice piece of furniture to hold all my nick-nacks when I’m an old lady.

Well, my boyfriends roommate moved out… back home.. and left most all his things still at the house. His bed, dresser, night stand, and a bunch of other crap. So this last weekend I went through and snapped pictures of everything and stuck them on Craig List at about 7pm. With in minutes WHAM! a fish- (as I call them), and within 20 minutes more fish! I was having a good time!

The next morning we sold the bed to a gal who I thought was probably single with a 2 yr old (or younger) and she said they’d been sleeping on an air mattress for months. So I felt good about her getting the bed. And then a guy came and looked at an end table I had stuck on the site…. and he took that. We were really rolling now!

Now- I’ve been going through my house and taking pictures of things I don’t use or don’t need and sticking those on the site. I mean.. there’s nothing wrong with getting rid of stuff and not packing it all over the place right..? And if it’s been in my garage for the last 2 years and I havent needed it, why not get rid of it?

My boyfriend is worried… is there a group for people addicted to selling on Craigs List? Should I call this a reverse form of gambling? I told him he didn’t need to worry quite yet, but if I get to the point where I’m selling his bed while he’s still sleeping in it.. or big furniture pieces seem to turn up missing with no explaination of where they could have gone… then he can sign me up for Craist List annoymous or something for loving help and support.

Anyway- I think Craigs List is a great little site, and it’s great if you’re looking for just about anything… I hear you can even find sex on craigs list.. although you really should have some standards when it comes to that, and besides that, its just icky!

Have a good day!! And Happy Shopping!

You know… as the years go on, everyone and everything around us seems to get more ‘politically’ correct.. with everyone trying to please everyone else. I say enough!!

In Australia this year, they were telling store Santa’s not to say “Ho Ho Ho” because it may or may not be offensive to women. I’m sorry.. but when I hear “Ho Ho Ho” especially coming from Santa, I would have never even considered it offensive, or that Santa was referring to me as a “Ho”.  Never in a million years would this have even come into my mind. The only way I can imagine it being remotely offensive is if you are a “ho”.  And if you are.. that’s your business. But if you’re offended, then change your ways.. dont expect people to change years of tradition just for you.

And what about the people on the new campaign kick for a new healthy Santa…. that the current Santa portrays an unhealthy, unfit Santa….what the CRAP is THAT about? I mean, lets be serious here people! All the stories and books about Santa, show a chubby Santa…one who is ‘jolly’.. ‘and when he laughed his tummy shook like a bowl full of jelly’. Do you mean to tell me you are going to rewrite possibly hundreds of years of folktales, bedtime stories, and family tradition? I can’t picture a slim Santa being jolly and his tummy would definately not shake like a bowl full of jelly if he was all skinny! My Santa is not wafer thin!

And who wants to be politically correct about the holidays? Again, I’m sorry. But I don’t get offended when I see a Hanukkah card in the store, or Kwanzaa on my calendar, or Canadian holidays. for that matter.  I understand there are many religions, celebrations, and beliefs. And everyone should be able to celebrate their belief without getting crap from everyone else. What I AM offended by, is that I have to bend over backwards, and even tip toe around the holidays that I grew up with because someone else out there may not feel or believe the same as me. Tell you what, you believe what you believe in, and I will believe what I believe in. We won’t try to convert one another, won’t put down each other’s beliefs. I won’t snicker and sneer behind your back while you celebrate in the way your family has for centuries. I don’t want to say Happy Holidays… I want to say Merry Christmas!  And if you don’t like it, then that’s just going to have to be too bad!

I have to give kudos to Mike Huckabee in his Christmas message, where he actually wished people Merry Christmas. He wasn’t afraid of his beliefs, and if people would accept them of not. He said his Christmas message the way he wanted to say it. Way to go Huckabee!! 

I grew up with Christmas… Santa… Baby Jesus, the Easter Bunny, and all the other calendar holidays. Will we try and change Thankgiving to be something else, so that we don’t offend race or religion… or color? What about the 4th of July? President’s Day?

My question is, if you start changing the things that have followed alongside the building of our great nation.. the things that our ancestors believed in…holidays,  religion… whatever it might have been.. where does it end? People want to change my Santa and my Christmas. The things I have believed in all of my life.. the things my parents believed in.. the things my son believes in. Everyone is so afraid of offending someone by saying Merry Christmas, but what about those of us who are offended that we can’t say “Merry Christmas’ because it might be offensive to someone within ear shot? Instead of changing things so we don’t offend, why dont we all embrace our differences and be happy with that?

When you say Merry Christmas to someone, they don’t have to say it back.. they can say Happy Holidays, or Happy Hanukkah. We are after all a nation of different people, cultures and religions. Who said there is only one right way to celebrate or believe? I saw a sign years ago that read “God created so many different kinds of people, so why would he choose only one way to serve him?”

Now, I’m not saying I’m religous, but I loved that sign. Embrace your belief and let others embrace theirs. None is more right than the other…. but please, leave my Santa alone….. leave the “ho ho ho” alone.. and leave my Merry Christmas alone!

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a goodnight!

Well, it’s been a while since I last wrote anything, but life has been crazy and very busy, and am hoping that sometime soon it might all slow down.

I need to list a few of my newer favorite places to eat. The first place is Batter and Beans in downtown. They have a nice selection of crepes. My favorite so far is the banana, peanut butter, nutella and granola. There may be another ingredient in there, but off the top of my head I cant remember what it is. But it is reeeeaaally good. They also make those mexican, egg and salsa ones… my boyfriend likes those.

The next place I really like is the 541 lounge. Augustine, the owner, is great. He takes time to come and talk with you, and even remembered us from a few days before. Their filet is delish!! They have a nice assortment of red wines… my favorite, and it’s not to expensive is the writers block syrah. I’ve not been there on Friday or Saturday late evenings, but I hope it is popular or will get there… the service is awesome, and their live music is a nice change from the piped in stuff at most places…

My boyfriend, son, and I went on vacation last week. We had a blast! Seaworld, water parks, the Alamo. The flight down was good. pretty much on time… no problems. A little bumpy turbulance on the descent, but all was good. The flight back however was a disaster. The flight was cancelled after a three hour delay, then another couple hours at the airport waiting to hotel/food vouchers from the airline, waiting to get booked out of LA the next day, and then again, another line once we got to the hotel. In bed by 4am, and back up at 8:30am. didnt get home until 7pm that night.

Back home and into the heat of the summer. I, unfortunately until last night, did not have airconditioning. My house in the mornings, was 88 degrees. But lastnight my boyfriend and I took an older air conditioning unit to Sears to get re-charged, Long story short, he ended up buying a new unit altogether. So we got it all hooked up and I finally had a good nights sleep in some cooler weather. Thank God the storm is here today.. ok- well maybe later tonight, because that will cool off my house finally.

Looking forward to the weekend. Going kayaking for the first time, but it will be nice in the hot weather. Maybe a fall in the water will be nice too.

Thats it for now…

Do you ever have a day where you just want to walk away from it all? Go back to a time when things seemed like they were more simple? No cell phones attached to your ear, or back to back to back appointments?

I have a picture from a magazine hanging on the wall in my office of a large beautiful two story log cabin in Idaho. It backs up to a tree covered hill.  There are corrals off each side of the home, and the area to the front and just beyond the corrals are grassy like meadows. And the part I love the best? The small river that runs in front of the home. There are even two wooden chairs next to a small tree down by the water. I so want to be there!! I could sit in one of those chairs for hours! Do some fishing, some reading maybe. Seems so quiet there…no craziness! Sure you may need a snowmobile to get out during the winter, but it almost seems worth it. Just make sure you load up on the firewood and the basics.

Or what about a move to Amish Country? They have a great sense of community, and family, and no one cares if you’re at the store without any makeup on, they dont care about having materialistic things, and ladies,–you may have a little more time to bake some bread, whip up a quilt, and the men can raise a barn.

See……skills…..Isn’t that what girls want? Men with skills?

Ok- so Amish Country may seem easier and not so hurried, but is it really? I mean there’s the farm to run, and quilting and cooking and baking… cleaning… beating your clothes against rocks or with sticks … washing ALL your dishes by hand….hmmm …wait….where is nap time scheduled again? Where’s the peaceful quiet time? Maybe you’re not busy all day and you can sit on the porch or go dip your toes in a creek someplace.?

Anyway- Im just thinking that summer is coming and that means its time to do some traveling, and just get out of town. I have a backpacking trip to experience once the snow melts. I’d love to go on an extended vacation. …. like for a month or two. Go to Panama… Costa Rica…..live on the beach or in the jungle. A place where you are actually living life.. not just living through life as life and everything in it passes you by. Where there are no watches, or clocks to remind you when you have to get up, or that you need to be at an appointment, that it’s time for work. Where you have more time for family, or for yourself. More time to just sit and enjoy. I think I get so busy sometimes I forget to breath.

Whatever your plans are for this summer, remember to take time to slow down a little. Take a break from your cell phone.. even if it’s just for a day.. if you can. Spend time with family. With friends. Go for a hike, go camping. Breath. ….

Whatever it is, enjoy….

Well, I’ll soon be on an adventure of backpacking/camping through the forest, carrying all my stuff on my back. No hair supplies, no make up.. only a hat, sunscreen, and my carmex….. oh yeah- and bug repellant. Damn bugs anyway!

I went yeaterday and tried on a few backpacks, and then ordered one. Should be here in a couple of weeks. Next I need to get a good toasty sleeping bag, some cute hiking boots, and maybe a cute hat. No sense losing fashion just because I’m going to be filthy.

I’ve never backpacked in my life.. have only camped in actual camp grounds a few times. You know the kind. Where they have outhouses, and a faucet of cold water. But where I’m going there will be no outhouses, no faucets of cold water…..no signs of civilization- just bugs and animals with large sharp teeth and rumblys in their tumblys. Eating ramen noodles, couscous, trail mix with those icky raisins, and maybe one of those packages of food flakes, where you add water and voila! Beef stroganoff, or lasagna… or better yet, scrambled eggs with bacon and pancakes. These little packages intrigue me- I cant imagine scrambled egg flakes tasting very good! Kerry said not to try one at home because it may be totally gross. But when you’re out in the middle of no where ,with only those packs -they may save my life! I don’t know if they’ll make me sick, kill me, or if I should just bring along the pepto tablets? At least there’s no shortage of places to get sick out in the woods- you only have to find the perfect tree. Guess its a good way to lose some weight..? Between the trail mix and those food flakes.. maybe I should re-think this backbacking thing….? haha

I’m not sure when my adventure will start. Right now everything is covered in snow (and I’m a wussy in cold weather), but we’re looking at trails and planning trips for this year. I’ll be taking my son too. He’s never gone backpack hiking/camping either. Plus he’s going to have to carry his own pack, so I can almost hear the whining now. But maybe he’ll surprise me and be totally into it. He seems really excited about it right now.

Kerry has a degree in Wildlife biology, and Wyatt finds that so interesting… loves learning all sorts of things scientific, and outdoorsy, so we can turn the trip into a learning session and maybe it won’t seem like work. Our friend Mark will come along with us on some trips, and he’s got a degree in Wildlife biology too.. so it should be fun. Kerry and Mark have backbacked through Alaska a few times, so they at least have experience.

Im excited at trying something new. I’ve never done anything like this before, so we’re going to have to start out small. I’m also not sure how much my back can carry, but I’ll give it a good try. But Im very excited and this should be a lot of fun, and I’ll let everyone know when the first trip is happening. I’ll also let you know how Wyatt and I do, and about the food flake packages.

I haved to say kids are so funny. My son is into all sorts of stuff, but is really into the “what if” stage… Like what is he found a dragon egg and got to raise the dragon baby……

or…..’ mom, what if we bought this sarcophagus and put it in our hallway” as he was flipping through this magazine.

Hes got such cute, and wonderful sayings, phrases, and thoughts. Some of them quite bizarre and some of them funny.

The other day he was going through the magazine. This magazine has mid-evil era costumes and so he was asking me which maidens dress I would want. I said I wanst sure so we flipped though and picked one out that I liked. Then he went though and picked out a costume for my boyfriend….. a coachmans costume.. with long trench coat. Then Wyatt flipped through to pick out costume for himself. He liked many of the costumes but there was one that he found that he couldnt get because it would make him look “too frenchy”. I died laughing. I asked him what was to frenchy about the costume and he said the mans facial hair… moustache, beard, etc.

It was all very cute… and I dont think i’ll ever get over the ideas in his head… all of his ‘what if’s ‘they crack me up!

Remember when you would put Elmers glue on your palm and let it dry, then peel it off? Well, tonight I was brought back to an old elementary school memory. While my son worked on his book report at the dining room table I was prepping the other half of his assingment, and found myself smearing glue on my palm… boy did that take me back a few years… and yes- only a few.. I am only 29 after all….

Funny how something small can do that. Its like when I hear an old Duran Duran song- reminds me of 8th grade and freshman year of high school, or that Bryan Adams song “Heaven” reminds me of the only 8th grade dance I ever went to. Or the summer days.. laying in the sun with Air supply “All out of love” blaring on the boom box while you rub on more baby oil and sprtiz yourself with a water bottle.

A while back I went through this box I have of old tapes… do you remember cassette tapes? Well, I have a bunch of them from The Go-Gos, Pat Benatar.. what about Rico Suave?? Yep- got it! And … oooh ooh,  that “pump up the jam” song, (who can forget that one) to a bunch of untitled mixed tapes. I couldn’t believe the songs I have on those tapes. Staci Q, Glen Medeiros, The Jets, Miss Jackson if youre nasty…..and sadly i think I may even have the “Rip City Rhapsody” Portland Blazers song on there, and lastly Martika’s “Toy Soldiers”.

Each song reminding me of some memory, whether it be a boy I had a cruch on, a summer memory, and each song got its own.. OMG!! I remember this song! Or it could be a show. Remember Northern Exposure? I LOVED Northern Exposure! Didnt you just want to go live up there? Just be there? Sheesh!

And what about those color change t-shirts? Parachute pants? Keds? Stirrup pants and the large belted shirt that would hang down to your knee,  big bangs , and you werent ’all that, and a bag of chips’ if you didnt have an arm full of cheesy bracelets. Wow. Now those are some days.

And the phrases? My son says ’sike’ now… and that REALLY brings my age home like a smack in the face. But its funny too, because he thinks the 90’s were the ‘olden days’ so when I tell him I used to say that when I was his age, he’s thinking the 80’s were filled with cave men, dinosaurs and walking to school with no shoes.. in the snow- up hill, both ways, and we of course didnt have cars back then either. You can almost see his little wheels turning in there.. trying to grasp what life was like back in the REALLY olden days of the 80’s.

Anyway- I had to share some of my memories brought on by some old music and a bottle of glue with a cow on it. Moooo