Week in Review

Sunday:  Alex did the Big Climb for Leukemia at the Columbia Center in Seattle...76 floors, 1137 stairs.  He did it!  Great job Alex, I'm so proud of you.

Monday:  Papa comes home from the hospital.  Whew, what a scare.  Lesson learned, don't eat fish from Denney's.  Stick to pancakes and a Grand Slam.  Food poisoning can kill you!

Tuesday:  Lilia has her first check-up.  No cavities.  She amazes the dentist/hygienist with her ability to cooperate and sit through xrays.  She's growing up!

Wednesday:  JH last basketball game.  Another season done.  He enjoyed it a LOT.  I enjoyed it a LOT.  I do love soccer.  But I can live with basketball too :)

Sofia, chooses to read instead of watch.  That's okay.  I love my book worm too.

Thursday:  JH has a pre-season family BBQ with his baseball team.  I do like Coach Steve and Coach Bill.  Hey, I like baseball too!   Let's hope for a dry, warm spring.

Friday is here!  The flowers are blooming....wahoo!!!!

Pet Peeve

You want to know what really bothers me?  If the answer is no.  Please close this tab.

Why can't people put their dirty dishes in the dishwasher, immediately.  I mean really.  You walk to the kitchen with a dirty dish.  Rinse it.  Open the dishwasher.  Place it in the dishwasher.

Instead.  Walk to the kitchen with a dirty dish.  Set in the sink.  Leave.

Okay, it's 3 more steps.  A little more energy.  But really.

Yes, it happens at my home sometimes.  But more so on the job.

And those that don't put their dishes in the dishwasher are probably the same ones who don't wipe down the counter after they've used it.

I can gently remind the children I live with, but do I really need to remind the adults I work with?

Really.

Home

It's been a busy week.  Work, kids, out of town.  I'm glad to be home.  It's Friday night, the house is quiet, sans the washer spinning.

I went to Spokane for work on Wednesday.  It's quite a production to go out of town under somewhat "normal" circumstances, but when my dad got the flu, I was struggling to arrange kids in different places, sometimes at the same time.

A sample of this week's activities.

M:  JH church 6-8 (he will receive his 1st communion in May!)
Tu:  Alex guitar, 2-2:30; JH basketball 6-7; Sofia soccer 6:15-8
W:  JH basketball game 6-7
Th:  Sofia choir concert 6:30-7:30 (normally a soccer repeat)

You can see why me being gone for 24 hours can cause me some angst.  Luckily Uncle Don and Ashli came to the rescue, taking them to school, picking them up, and getting them to their commitments.  Thank you....we love you!!!

I'm home, I'm glad.

But I did have fun in Spokane.  I trained about 65 amazing members on analyzing a district's budget.  No bumps, pretty smooth, great crowd.

Typically when I go to Spokane I stay at the Holiday Inn.  This time I opted for something different, off beat and downtown.  The Montvale Hotel.  Very old.  Very cool.  Old hardwood floors throughout, crickity old stairs, high sealing, thick crown molding.  Great atmosphere, much different than the usual.

The night I arrived I met macGirl Sally for dinner and drinks.  We thought we'd get crazy in Spokane on St. Patty's Day...hey with Gonzaga, party town, nows the chance!  The reality, by 9:30  my vino was kickin' in and I was ready for bed.  I held out for a few more glasses of wine and more conversation.  Fun.  I finally settled to bed a little before midnight.  But I could hear the party-goers on the streets until about 3am....my 6am alarm would come too early.

Sally took me to see the most amazing historic hotel in Spokane, The Davenport.  The hotel was built in 1914.  It is beyond beautiful.  The detail.  The greatness.  The ballrooms.  The chandeliers.  I think I could get married there.  Maybe someday I'll stay there.  Everyone needs to pop in, you too will be in awe!

Tomorrow is Bella's birthday at the pool.  Not looking forward to go in with Lilia.  Especially with auntie visiting :)  I'm hoping I can get her Auntie Alesia to have the honors and I'll set up the party.  Sounds like a plan.

Sunday will be soccer, Alex is doing the Big Climb for Leukemia in Seattle and a family lunch with the padres (I hope).  Poor papa is still feeling week.  Need to pay a visit.  Oscar, Ashli, Jen and whoever else will show up too, we need to start planning our Seattle Sounder soccer season.

Good night.

I lost an hour

It's only 10:43 really.  Not 11:43.

But you think, when my alarm goes off at 6:15, it will be 5:15 to my body.  Yawn!

Must go to bed.

Just a pop in to say life is good.

Spent Saturday with Sofia in Moses Lake.  They lost.  2-0.

She guarded a girl nearly a foot taller.  Lots of elbows to the face.  She didn't even phase Sofia though,  she kept up with her just fine.

What's the best part of Moses Lake.  Pan Dulce.  All gone.

Can't wait to get back to work tomorrow, need to make a dent in my pile.  I should be going bearing gifts for R & B.  But am not prepared.

Off to Spokane on Wednesday, back Thursday.  Birthday parties, soccer & Big Climb (Alex) this weekend.

Good night.

March Madness

March is a busy time for work.  Always has been .... maybe because it's the start of bargaining, close to the end of the legislative session, training and travel.

I went to Republic (3+ hours north of Spokane) a couple of weeks ago.  I picked up a lovely cough.  Probably from the germs on the plane (if you didn't know this, I don't like planes).  I still have it.  For the most part, it's calmed down.  I'm not coughing all night until my chest is on fire anymore.

The doctor said, lots of liquids, vitamin C, Robitussen DM...I'm drinking TONS of tea with honey.  Actually I've been off coffee for nearly the whole time.  And I'm still alive.  Although my bladder isn't what it used to be, need to do more kegals (sp?).

Tomorrow I head to Pasco through Friday night.

Next week Spokane.

Then it will slow down some, I hope.

Today I attended a training on electronic "social networking".  It was very good.  The instructors did a great job.  I work with amazing colleagues.  There is so much out there....my head spins.  Tomorrow is another full day.

Tonight I went swimming again.  Did my laps.  This time more breast stroke.  My arms are sore.  But I have to build endurance.  Trek is coming.

Good night.

Yikes

Where did 2 weeks go?

Life is good.  I think there is a store named "Life is Good" at the airport.

Tonight Alex had a band concert.  He did great, as did all the band members.  It's amazing how far they've come since the fall.  Lilia, just like last fall, fell asleep during the performance.

Lita and Papa came.  Alex said he was especially happy that papa came, very sweet.

When we got home, the coyotes were howling loudly and quite eerily in the woods.  It's almost like they caught something and were celebrating.  I called Carter and told him to run outside to listen, of course they then stopped.

I travel to take Sofia to Great Lodge tomorrow night, work Saturday, so maybe I'll catch you Sunday.

Here's a picture Alex took of himself in December.  I think he wanted to send it to a girl.  He took it himself.  He's getting so big, hormones and attitudes are full on, yet he is still my little Alex.