Dashing Disappointment

Avoiding disappointment is something I've drastically improved at over the years. When I was younger, I learned that if you allowed your hopes anywhere near what you actually wanted, you were unequivocally setting yourself up for misery. And so I quit hoping. Suddenly, life seemed a little more realistic, albeit boring. Sure, some might think I'm not optimistic, but I beg to differ. I'm happy, and enjoy my life without getting hopes up. These disappointment "possibilities" range from monumental (I'm going to Europe!) to minor (is that letter coming today?). If I always prepare for the worst, I am guaranteed better. I find it's a good philosphy.

Until yesterday.

Yesterday, I heard that my uncle was planning on marrying in Las Vegas, and was bringing his children with him for the wedding. My cousin, Kirstine, wrote that she would be coming to the states, but only for a few days. Quickly I worked out a plan. Could I come and see her? She's one of my favorite people in the entire world. I got the time off work, I talked to the right people, I looked up flights. I was going to see my favorite cousin.

I found out this morning that she wasn't coming. Brutally, I was pulled back into reality. "Stupid girl," I told myself; "did you really think she could come, and somehow you could pull off seeing your family?" Grimly, I remember my old credo of keeping low hopes, even (*especially*) when you think it's a sure thing.

One thing is certain. I haven't cried like this over a disappointment in several years.

The Library

The Moscow Public Library is pretty awesome. Given, its not the biggest, and it reeks of "old," but do you expect from a building built in the early 1900's? Today I took a little walk over there, and promptly fell asleep in the reading chairs (they were super-soft and had matching ottomans!)

You should try it sometime.

EmbawASSing moments

You know the moment you realize you've been trailing a ten foot string of toilet paper (perhaps with some leftovers)? OMG did everyone in the near vicinity just witness that... is the thought bounding through my mind. No worries, no worries, my story is far worse.

Since it's after labor day, I don a white dress to work. I look good.

On my way home, I sling on my back pack. Everything where it's supposed to be? Okay.

After walking a mile home in the boiling sun, bike in hand because I didn't want to muss my clothes (vain, anyone?) I clamber up the hill and reach back to adjust my pack. There's a lump in the way: my dress. To avoid any further embarassment, I tug quickly to cover my butt.

Did I just prance down Highway 8, the biggest and busiest street in town, with my ass in full view? It wasn't just in my skivvies; I displayed my sheerly clothed, mostly see-through *I aspire to be a grandma in the 1700's underwear* white butt. In all its jiggling glory. No support for this guy.

For obvious reasons, I am not about to post a picture.

Readers Beward: TMI

To those of you considering having a sex life: don't. Unless you have a burning desire to be prodded (yearly!!!) with medival torture devices and pricked in private places, I highly advise against it.

The Burly Bear Hat

Anyone who actually reads this blog already is already aware that I am a knitter. I'm destined to achieve arthritis at a young age, but I enjoy it. I recently discovered a pattern for a "utopia" hat, but decided to dub it "The Burly Bear Hat" because of its incredible density. Unfortunately, the photo is rather small, but it has 18 cables that mesh into one another, and it is made of heavy wool/acrylic mix yarn. Washable!!!
See for yourself! I'm hoping to sell at few at the Farmer's Market in a couple of weeks.

Coupons, Coupons

I feel a little stingy and cheap when I use coupons. Sad, but true. I feel that if I don't have the funds to purchase crap without little paper slips, then I shouldn't bother. Then I discovered that coupons are: Ta-da! You guessed it! ADVERTISING!

So I've been mooching as many coupons as possible from those coupon books and the mail. I've got 20% of my dry-cleaning, free french fries, $5 of Disney movies--all sorts of stuff. I used to feel that if I had a coupon, it meant I had to use it. Now I know that it's not necessary. It's simply to save when I need it to.

I employed the use of 4 coupon's at Michael's yesterday, saving myself over $10. Although it was a hassle and I had to process 4 transactions, it got 4 MORE coupons in return plus it saved me an hour's work ($11 for an hour of work vs. 10 min. shuffling coupons...).

Mission accomplished and cheapness achieved. It's like, Idaho's gimmick!

I found this...

So I found this ridiculous list on Becky's (AKA Karen's) blog. I thought I'd fill it out because it looked funny...and all the bolded ones are things I've done. Some, I never hope to do...

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii (I will soon though!)
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyworld/Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you were not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma (Not for lack of trying though!)
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been laid off from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Kissed a stranger at midnight on New Year’s Eve
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee

No Reason

I just wanted to post some more recent pictures (you know, from BEFORE I lost our camera).

1. Note the blizzard raging outside.
2. Funny Faces
3. More funny faces
4. My fake, hand-drawn tattoo

A Birthday, A Party, and A Crash

...Matt threw me a fantastic surprise party the other day. April 26th was my 23rd birthday, and I was feeling pretty bummed that nobody wanted to hang out. My friends suck, I thought. Until...I arrived home from the SRC; there were about 20 people in my living room!!!

My apartment had been decorated, there were presents on the table, and everyone pitched in to buy some serious sized pizza. I had a wonderful time, and would like to give an extra thank you to Desee, Katie, and Matt who put the whole thing together :-) I didn't have to do anything

Unfortunately, I came down with something terrible ON my birthday, which lasted three days. I missed a day of work, I slept 17 hours straight, and now I'm feeling better.

More than I need!

...For Christmas last year, my combined bosses purchased a gift certificate at a Bed & Breakfast in Spokane, WA for me. This weekend, we FINALLY used it! We stayed at "Angelica's Bed & Breakfast" in the old(er) part of Spokane. We spent Saturday evening looking at Spokane falls, walking around Canada Island, and enjoying ourselves on Riverfront Park.We had a great time in Spokane, walking around, shopping, and forgetting about life for 24 hours.

At the bridge, I decided to get a scoop of ice cream. There is little better than a stroll across the river with ice cream in hand. Dreyer's had three options: The sundae boat (three scoops, toppings), a double scoop, and a single scoop. I requested a single scoop--with hot fudge.

"But you could get the Sundae boat: three scoops and toppings..." says the guy at the counter.

"Right. But I don't want or need three; I just want one" is my reply.

"I don't know if I can do that. We only sell three with toppings" he says.

He fumbles around for a while, asking his fellow employees if he can sell me just one scoop with a topping. Finally, he concludes that he can sell me two scoops with one topping.

"Just one, not two."

"Ok"

So: I paid for one scoop + topping. Mission accomplished!