D-Day

The deposition for the law suit is on Sept. 21. And the court day is scheduled for March 7, 2007, what i consider D-Day and my goal for moving out of this place. Ohhhhh, that sammy!

goodbye, design on a dime

It was a good run. 18 months with the redesigned room that Design on a Dime created for us was pretty great. But seriously, I hit my max, some of that stuff just had to go. We disassembled the 'wall of fun', cleared out all closets, broke down both desks and, yes, the little squiggly art table in the middle. Gone, gone, all gone! And i couldn't be happier. Isn't that sad? I feel so refreshed, though. Like when you get back from the beach and there's sand crusted to your feet, in your hair and other very uncomfortable places and then you take a hot, yummy shower. Ahhh, so clean. that's what I feel like. Actually, the walls are still construction cone orange but that too will be taken care of ASAP. will post pics when it's all over. But a big thanks to pie town and the Design on a Dime gang. It was fun. Now let's just hope they don't call to shoot a follow up!

death cab for cutie

great concert. I'm supposed to be gettting ready for a birthday dinner with some girlfriends tonight so why am i sitting here posting pics? Well, jess asked for them, so what do you do? no wonder i'm always late. Anyway, tough to get good shots in the dark but here's ben gibbard playing the keyboard. I loved their background trees and there was a city that lit up red at the end. we had great seats too which was awesome.

Doug and Em listening to Mates of State who opened for Death Cab for Cutie. Another great band. I love how I look exactly the same in every pic i ever take. one expression pony. that's me. I also just noticed that it looks like we're the only people there. ha ha.

Just say NO to Drugs and other things too.

I'm the girl that has a hard time saying NO to people who need help. Or at least I used to be. Two years as an apt. manager has hardened me, to say the least. Now I'm really good at saying NO. But for some reason a month ago I went against all judgement and said YES to the people in 208 who asked if Sophie would feed their fish and water the plants while they were on vacation. Asking Sophie to do it is basically asking me to do it and i really don't have the brain space to remember this sort of thing. But ok, sophie could earn a little money and so i went with her the first time and then placed all other responsibility to remember to go back every other day for a week on her. And she did it, partly because i put it on my calendar and reminded her each day and partly on her own. By the end of the 10 days the fish was alive and the plants were healthy. Great. Done. Sophie got her 20 bucks.

So last week, 208 found me on the way down to the car and asked if Sophie could do it again. I hesitantly said OK and continued on with my day. The problem is i never put it on my calendar and only mentioned it to Sophie once. Well, this morning, while in the shower, the place where i do all of my deep thinking, i remembered 208. Oh CRAP! we were supposed to start 5 days ago! All i could think is the fish is dead, the plants are dead. Great. We ran over to 208 and thankfully the fish was still alive. There was a note also asking her to pick up the mail. Even better, now a weeks worth of mail is bulging from their little metal box. I went outside and find the plants brown, droopy, barely clinging to life. I drenched them in water hoping to revive everything before Saturday when 208 comes home. Moral of the Story: don't be the nice guy!. It's OK to say NO. and i should have. Now i'm going to have to pay for new plants.

the chop

Owen cut his bangs all by himself the other night. Today we cut the rest to match. G'ma T will be so pleased.
He's also sporting his new soccer cleats.

quality vs. quantity

I heard a quote on parenting that says quantity is more important that quality. Which on the outset sounds a bit off doesn't it? Shouldn't everyone spend quality time with their children? But, thinking about it again i suppose that having your kids with you while you're even doing the mundane junk of everyday lets them learn how you (instead of a nanny, or manny if you're Britney Spears) interact with people, how you spend your spare time, and what sort of things make it to the top of your priority list. Ok, so that makes sense. Makes me reevaluate a few things but definitely makes sense. What kinds things do make my priority list? How do i talk and interact with others?

The other day we were grocrery shopping and I had Sophie and Owen with me and 2 sisters that we were watching for the day while their parents were at a conference. Shopping with 4 kids is a pretty insane but i'm proud to say we did it and came out with lots of food and without incident. Well, except for the following.... I am checking out and placing everything on the conveyor belt and owen is off choosing some gum. An older woman pushed her shoppping cart up behind me and was looking at some magazines and sort of blocking the aisle in front of Owen. I'm watching him try to maneuver past this lady and feel confident he'll be polite and just ask her if he can get get through. This is Owen after all, the easy going mellow little boy.

But instead he hollers, "Excuuuuse Me, Old Lady!" And while he says 'old lady' he shifts his body back and forth like a rapper from one side to the other. "WHAT THE CRAP? What was that?? I couldn't believe my eyes and ears, I was absolutely mortified. The lady was a little startled but she said, "well, alright, now you can get through." He makes his way up to me and i grab him by the hand and march him right back over and wouldn't let him leave until he looked at this kind lady and said, "Excuse Me, Please."

Of course by that time he was very embarrassed and just put his head down but we stood there until he said it to her.

No way did he learn this from me, right? I mean, we do live aournd A LOT of old people. It's got to be at least 75% elderly here. But I'm the one that likes old people, remember? All those cute littly hunchy couples walking each other around the block, i love that. Or, did i get a little too flippant with my comments as we slowly, oh ever so painfully followed an elderly driver as they made their way down our street. dang. Kids pick up on everything.

Maybe they ARE better off with the Nanny.