So with the rest of the family here we did some good things out side of the house like agate hunting on the road, archery practice with the whole family, movie nights where we have watched Jurassic Park II and ID 4. Hiked around Newton Hills State Park, Palisades State Park, Falls Park, crafted while the boys played video games/watched YT and hit up fighter practice. We have been active and that has been nice though now sitting at my desk for 9 hours makes my hips hurt. Le Sigh.

Right now Rob is putting in new light fixtures in the dining room and the entryway. The entryway has a boob light and the fixture in the dining room is for if 1) you had the table centered in the room, 2) if your ceilings were 15 foot heigh. Neither of those are the case since we use the patio (mom never did) and with the move of table during the overhaul to put in the bar. So I got two lights and wasn't sure which would go where. After discussions last night the stained glass went up in the dining room today and crystal in the entry. Rob had to do some finicky work to get the plates to line up and the fixture in the entry he just swapped out the shade. It looks so good! Before and . I didn't get the before shot in the entryway but here it after. This makes me happy and now no one will hit their heads in the dining room.

We also got a new dishwasher but it didn't get the plumbing hooked up cause its all copper in this house and needed a new valve. So it was a week before we could use the dishwasher for anything other than a drying rack and we have 7 people in the house...that is a lot of dishes we have all been doing. And teenage/tweens produce a copious amount of dishes.

For animals we've now seen a whole deer family unit with two does, and two fawns, including a tiny one who is so cute. But I had a muskrat visit the downstairs patio doors and I only got this photo through the screens . The bunnies and ground squirrels have been all over, lots of finches, swallows, robins (with a nest of 3 babies on our porch light), cardinals, finches, killdeer, wood peckers, and the boys saw a mouse in their bathroom drop ceiling, so I will have to get traps. We will put kill stuff out when we leave since I don't want the cats to eat a poisoned mouse. But sighs.

So wildlife and such. Its been nice to have the family here and we have an SCA trip to Wisconsin on Thursday. It will be fun and the weather is only looking kinda rainy so hopefully not with the tornado issues from last year. :)

The storms have shown some pretty skies though:
Fourth of July
June 23

The knee going out was indicative of my week. I'd like a refund on last week and to eject it from the timeline.

This will be whining and sorrowful I'm sorry.

Work was so many stoopid meetings that could have been an email. If people actually did their jobs, or could yanno, have more than a dot in reading comprehension that would be great. It was super frustrating and made me very angry and just annoyed.

Mel came down with "spring sleeping sickness" which was not covid or flu (we tested) but he was exhausted for Monday afternoon through Friday. So my routine was off for when he is home and when he is not and Benton was worried and then got a bit of this sickness. I'm pretty sure its allergy driven. Everything is blooming and my histamines are high but I also take 3 separate meds for allergies/asthma so I think I'm ahead of things.

Tuesday during the day I got a message from my High school friend Amy, and our mutual friend Andrea had taken a turn for the end. Her cancer had come back, she'd been silent on things since January and I'd checked her caring bridge monthly but no updates and I hadn't gotten to it this month and missed it. She was put in Hospice on Wednesday and then she passed on Friday morning. Her parents got to talk with her and say goodbye and her son did as well. Her brothers have been there the full time. I only know she passed cause Amy is on FB...the caring bridge hasn't updated about it. She was 46 and leaves behind her wife (Jane) and their son Ayden who is 12. I'm sad and mad and just damn it. Fuck Cancer seriously. I don't know if there will be a service or a place to send donations? Its the only thing I could do, I guess. I'm not sure if it will be in DC or SD or what. I just don't know.

So Tuesday through Friday AM I was worrying and sending messages of comfort but still very depressed to lose a friend. Mel was sick and I wasn't bothering him with things and I had decided on Monday that I was taking Wednesday afternoon off for my birthday. So on the day I got Benton to school and when I got home and after a meeting Mel was like " oh I was going to take you out to dinner" and I just looked at him. I'm like...wouldn't that have been a convo for earlier in the week? "Well I was sick yesterday so I forgot and I still don't feel well so we will have to do it later?" I had already done planned things since he hadn't mentioned anything other than handing me my bday present early so I could make espresso. Sighs. Well I was annoyed but at least he had thought of things just didn't say anything. I was sad too...cause his plans sounded nice.


But I worked a very stressful "half" day and took 3 hours off and went antiquing by myself. I hit up the girls estate sale and I had been watching a purse style lonaberger basket drop to 50% off, a few stamps for 3 for $5 including a fancy price tag/gift tag cutter. I then headed to the Broadway mall and found one of our salad plates and a rose embroidered lamp scarf and the 1979 Battlestar Galactica blue prints. Then I went for a bit to the 22nd street mall and found a neat concho belt and a very pretty ring dish. I had been texting with Ari and we met up at Kon Tiki for dinner and drinks. We were treated to a very drunk guy at the bar. The bartender was not amused by his antics. But we had good food and drinks. Good conversation and a balm to all of my issues. She did get me yarn (goth rainbow) and cute needle minders that are gnomes and shrooms. Plus a slanket of wool.

Thursday I was back at work and it was bonkers and stressful. But i was able to leave the boys stayed home from kung fu so I picked up pizza before I came home. Thank you Mod for making it easy to order. We had pizza and all of us were in bed early. I was just done from the week. I did manage to get the Monster hunter badge for Stardew but yeah early to bed for all of us. Friday was an off day for all of us so the boys slept in and my brain had me up at 630. So I read and finished my Two Witches and a Whiskey. I then started in on Demon Magic and a Martini which has been quite good. Everyone was slow and I had a massage and then came home to make dinner after a shopping trip. Then I made some earrings for HRH Celeste and of course didn't take pictures. I got all of my stuff packed for the event the next day. Mel had already done his earlier in the day and that was his energy for the day.

Saturday we were all tired but awake and the boys felt a lot better. Got on the road with burritos and on the I10 by 7am. I wish it had been earlier but meh. We got to site and realized we should have packed the damn cart but after a few trips we managed to get to our tables. I got myself setup but was inundated with people and I had to very kindly ask for time to set up and then I could come talk. I had started teh morning in one outfit and mel nixed it as not looking nice. This was a good plan cause I had forgotten until I was sitting at the elevation I was speaking for a candidate (head desk). I also forgot for a bit how to use the cruise control on the van as I was driving. I got setup, went to the bathroom to put my head on straight (in more ways than one). Willa came with me and at the same community center was also a rally for the local republican group. (puke). I made some very pointed comments to will about how I was worried about Jane losing first her wife and then maybe her job cause of Trump in the ear shot of the woman next to me washing her hands. She immediately left the bathroom. good riddance. They were done about an hour later so we didnt have to seem them and their nazis. Ugh. Anyhoo...I then spent time before my first meeting of the day doing calligraphy. Hugh sat next to me and borrowed stuff from my kit and drew up a scroll and started on teh painting. I got the previous three scrolls I had callig'd erased finally. The ink had finally set. This new batch I did that day I pounced and they still started to smear so I just handed them to the signet (without photos cause I'm a dumbass) with instructions to erase in a week. I do think its this version of paper is the issue and I need to pounce it before. But my callig did well. I started on a third one too but with a Laurel Meeting, and hour break, a Princess's Tea and then a Pelican meeting? I didn't get much time at my scribal desk but I did manage throughout the day to put 4-5 inches on mel's sock. So I guess I crafted. Court was long...5 peerages included two on the spots but all were deserving and I gave a very very extemporaneous speech sitting there and realizing that I was speaking for a Laurel candidate and I had forgotten with all of the things this past week. But I made people cry so i think I did good. We had 20 mins to pack up and leave once court finished but we managed, got changed into modern clothes and then drove to dinner at Cornish pasty Co. I got a 32 ounce beer and good convos with Ari, Dominique, Benton, Stephen, and Mel. We drove home and it was 10pm when we pulled in. I got my night meds and collapsed into bed.

And that is where I'm leaving it....Sunday was ok.

This week has just been dumb in so many ways and I keep forgetting things, or misreading things or dunno just dumb.

Case in point misread some emails to comical results. Luckily no public embarrassment just my dumb.

I lost my airpods overnight and did the "find my devices" and they were at work. Got to work and they were nestled in the curve of my headset on my desk.

We had a major finding for our proposal so now I have to rewrite a bunch of things and its making my brain hurt considering it took 4 people like an hour to figure out the new period of performance for all of the phases. This is making me unmotivated and that is not good so I'm forcing the writing and the math and that just feels gross in my head.

Very very glad this is Friday.


Erika's dad is out of ICU and heading to a rehab hospital. Dom had his redo knee surgery. Bob had his knee replacement Tuesday and I have a cute picture of his snuggling his chicken I made him and fast asleep. I'm hoping that is the last of hospitals for friends...I'm kinda done with that TBH.

On the book Front I started #28 Pine Cove #1....its dated but fun thus far and not at all serious. Just what I need.


This weekend is chicken making, SCA events, and taking Bob's daughter to the airport.

Last Monday really was the pinnacle of suck and the week just kept hitting.  I was so off balanced and just not with it for most of the week.  Work was draining and by Thursday night I was so done.  So many stoopid things.  Ugh.  Friday was my day off and I worked the POD from 9-2 and it was the busiest I had ever seen it.  It was crazy.  We had 6 lanes of cars open at observation and had to keep it at 6 lanes since the vaccinators were working so fast we couldn't clear lanes in time from their 15 min observation.  Checked out and ran into Sean from the gym which was nice. he was working Observation 50 feet from me while I was doing traffic.  We didn't know.  Then headed to Costco and well...I don't like the layout of the Southside Costco and the fact it stocks very different stock than my usual one...ugh.  So weird.  But I checked out and ran into Pancho from the gym who works there.  He was feeling it from our new workout which is a lot of bouncy, full body craziness.  Seriously, Keith has us doing up/down planks with a jack...like really?  I can only do it it I really don't think about it.  ugh.  Then I got home and was woozy. The food they serve at the pod I can't eat and only one snack had no dairy (honey roasted peanuts).  The Costco had a huge line to get food and I just went home hungry and had to pee something fierce.  I should have gone at Costco but again, I hate the layout of that store.

So I managed to feed myself and get things settled and then I laid down.  It was okay. I was tired.  I had 16k steps which a lot of that was my waving flags counting steps but it was a lot.  My everything hurt. Lol. Gym and POD work taking its toll.  Saturday I got out of bed and went to the gym even though I really didn't want to. I did and then got burritos and when Mel went to work the POD Benton and I worked on de-effing the house.  We got the living room and the front room floors cleaned up and organized.  I wanted to wash floors but ran out of steam.  I grilled burgers and sweet potatoes for dinner and Mel was happy to have hot dinner.  We relaxed for the evening. Boyo was super clingy that dad was now home.  Sunday I got to sleep in a bit but I had work to do for the DBF competition.  I had 2.5 of them to finish and I should have been done a week ago but they were due this Monday.  I got through 2 without much issue and then the last one was a doozy. I had to stop and just walk away it was so bad.  I gave them a lot of zeros and they didn't follow the rubric at all.  They get the rubric...its not like they don't know what they are getting graded on...OMG.  I felt bad but their 27.5 points out of 100 is telling.

We had Jackie over to learn how to process fiber and it was nice to sit outside for a while and enjoy the weather.  I grilled sausages and made pasta for them and it was a good dinner.  I was tired from the brain drain of the papers and  just the weekend in general.  I snuggled up on the couch while we finished watching the last episode of Forged in Fire: Beat the Judges and then a couple of episodes of Iron Chef America.  I got back to knitting which I haven't done any since the 16th when I finished a cowl.  The yarn is so thin on this shawl and my hands were not happy with it but I took frequent breaks and then got about an inch done.  I had hoped to finish this by my birthday and wear it but I don't know if that is possible. I need to get back to working on the outdoor scroll and I hope to get that in work tonight and then sit and work on it for the text.  

I get my second shot on Wednesday and then mel gets his on the 10th...by the end of April I may be able to see Ari and the kids for dinner and that will be awesome. I miss them so much.

First Benton was home sick with Mel on Monday. That is okay...he's doing better but still an exhausted little boy who is not eating enough. Now his father is an exhausted boy who is not eating enough. Think they are related? Yeah. I did manage hit the gym monday and ran hard and then home for scribble where we were only missing one of our Laurels cause she's now out of state. marianavivia is back and that makes me happy. Especially when we got her back in the groove pretty quickly. We've gotten big again and will have to start putting out the card table for space. YAY!

Late Monday afternoon I found out I had jury duty on Tuesday. Blech. I don't mind doing my civic duty but the process is not very streamlined and full of dumb people. There are 90 jurors in our batch for one case and after sitting all day in a court room its down to 32 jurors and I still haven't been asked a question. I have to report back today. Luckily I have a good book but man I hate just sitting and waiting. Can't bring my crafts though one gal had snuck in crochet but I'm not willing to test that luck. I'm going to hit knit night tonight and get further on the blanket for the Pirogi #2 (my SIL, fibergeek's upcoming baby). I haven't spun for tour de fleece for a few days and last night since mel was feeling crappy I hit practice late and did some rapier.

Today we shall see what the jury duty things does to my schedule. But I will be hitting knit night and packing for the gym just in case.

We had a busy weekend with mel and I hitting the Pima County Fair to see Full Sail play. They are a band with folks I work with and it was a lot of fun. We had a nice lunch, tooled around the sheep exhibits and then hit up the exhibit halls. Mel got me my bday present of a pretty emerald necklace/earring set. We got to picking up Benton right on time and then had a quiet evening at home. Saturday we got up and headed to Barmaids with lferion. We had a fun day. Mel watched the boy while I fought in the rapier and then the hardsuit tourneys. I didn't come in last in the rapier and I guess I came in second in the hardsuit. Kane was an awesome bodyguard during the tourney and since it was really an multicombat situation that was helpful while I killed people he watched our back and we did well.

We were tanked by the time we got done with barmaids. I had dumb fighter brain and so when we got about 20mins outside of home I called in dinner to our local chinese place and we picked it up before going home. Benton went straight to bed without dinner he was so tuckered out. We all felt that way and after food and a summer shandy a piece it was nice to relax.

Sunday morning we got up and mel put on his biking gear and I put on my running gear and we met at Joes. I ran the 1.6 miles to joes (long way around from our house) with Benton in the stroller and made really good time. ickaimp met us for breakfast and we had a good time. Got home, changed clothes and then went out to the zoo. We took Benton's wagon out with us and had a good time. The peacocks were in great abundance and we had a really nice time. Benton went down for a nap (eventually) and I headed to Costco and then home. I was tired. I'd done a lot of physical stuff in two days and not a lot of sleep, I was weary but I did good and went to the gym on monday too.

Tuesday mel left for New Jersey for business. I was up with him a little after 5am. We had an okay night on Tuesday. I got more work done on the court book and then Wednesday the weird started. I had replaced the batteries in my alarm clock and I set it wrong. I got up later than I wanted since its just me at home and I have lots to do in the AM to get me and Benton ready. Got in to get Benton and he had wet the bed. Everything was soaked....he had gotten out of his diaper a bit and it caused the leak. Boys will play with themselves when ever they want...sighs. Got things torn apart and got him dried off and dressed. It was a battle to get him in clothes because he did not want to be up. Got him to daycare and had a rough day at work. I was soo tired. But I hit the gym and did 3 full circuits of the quick workout room and I increased the weights a notch on each time through. I was soaked and tired and ready to be heading home. I went to pick up Benton and he had had a day. He bit someone on the playground, was a brat and then decided during afternoon snack to dump all of his milk on his clothes. We got home okay and then when unloading the truck Benton decided to grab the tailpipe. Sighs. This led to about an hour of screaming and crying and obstinate behavior while I treated the burns and got dinner on the table and got him to finally eat it. He was finally in bed about 730-745pm but he was out. I dinked around before sitting back down to work on the court book for an hour and then I did the trash/cat box work and went to bed. At 1230-1am I woke up to Benton crying. We got up and got icewater, a new icepack for his hand and another dose of Advil. He was out pretty quickly after that and I went back to bed too.

Today was okay. He didn't want to eat breakfast right away but was happy to see the garbage truck etc. Normal Thursday routine without his dad though. Dropped off at daycare and they will be keeping his hand looked at and we should be okay. Everyone hopes he has a better day today.

I've got so much to do before we leave before dawn on Saturday that I'm thinking of skipping Dojo night. I need to get the key to someone to lock up. But we shall see....

So to give you some idea about how bad mel has been feeling he took himself to the doctor. Not kidding about that. He has/had an pretty severe ear infection and maybe strep...but the antibiotics would kick both in the but (seriously high dosages, whoa!) Already this AM he was looking better. I'm still kinda functing at about 70 % but I seem to be able to kick things quicker or just deal not sure but its an interesting mechanism to have.

Anyhoo things this week.

Benton turned 15mos old yesterday. Wow. He's making connections to things and following directions like "Benton please come here" or "Please bring me Mr. Elephant" and the like. He's trying to talk and making progress on understanding phrasing when you speak to him. He's parroting a bit but doesn't usually repeat things more than once...I'm sure that will change. He's getting so big now..just wow. He's already in 2T for shirts and I hope the 18mos shorts last through the summer. We are moving to size 5 diapers tonight and it just amazing the dexterity he has. Course he's only dexterous when he's awake and he managed to fall to the floor yesterday just after getting up from his nap and get a bloody nose. So our kid...seriously.

On the crafty front I've done a bit of knitting on my Castiel hat and saved it from me ripping it back to the lace part. There are 100 stitches on the needles and that is too many for my 4 dpns...I really should have went to 5dpns but I decided to switch to circular needles instead. It all works out the same thought. I hope to finish the hat over the weekend. We shall see.

Got a somewhat busy weekend planned with game night tonight and then an event Saturday and a house meeting sunday. Not sure if I'm up for an event on Saturday. Its been a rough week.

My brain is really bleeding right now from the information I've been absorbing for my new job...oy. Seriously...oof and when people on the teams are giving you the look of "you are crazy to have this job" its a bit daunting. Oof.

Well, on to the weirdo paperwork.

Wow, I guess I haven't posted in a week but its been a busy week. When last we left this journal it was christmas eve. ( Read more... )

Work was slow...wow, was it slow. Left and got home and got myself into my 14th Century and we headed to the demo at Santa Rita High School. Had a good time, painted more on the scroll and chatted with lots of parents and kids. ECS folks were there as were two of Illsa's boys. The 16 and 18 YO ones. They were fun and we had a good time. It was a medieval science fair kina. The kids did research projects on anything that interested them in the time period and then did displays with it. We saw trebuchets to clothing to the plague. Very neato.

Got home and fed Amber some dinner and watched the cats whine for food. After amber left I gave Obsidian some Petromalt to help with the hairballs. She thought is was the best thing evah. Then I had to do some laundry for this weekend. Sat down and watched some Ghost Rider..gods I luv that movie and waited for the laundry to finish then it was bedtime. I had no idea it was wakeup time I was so out. Perfect sleeping weather.

Gonna leave a bit early today to get packed up for coronation and get all of the awards ready, house picked up and car checked out. Hoping to miss rush hour in phx so here is to hoping. Not sure what our dinner plans are...will have to figure that out en route. All good though. All good. Now to just get through the work day.

Work was a lot of work but I did a big meeting and had lots of high rollers in it happy with the progress, understanding the issue and even though things are still stopped, they understand our concern. All good in my case. Got things off to the buyer but he didn't see the email so kinda scrambling this AM with the alt buyer. Hopefully things work out.

Got home about 645pm and got to sit and knit while watching men's hockey Canada versus Switzerland. It was an awesome game. Tied 2-2 even through sudden death overtime and then to the shoot out. They all shot through 3 guys and finally Canada on their 4th shooter took it! It was a beautiful shot. Wow!

Then we watched the ladies halfpipe which was really go big or go home. Not very consistent though between runs and lots of disappointment but neat to see. Then it was on to men's figure skating which I was getting tired through. I headed to bed after the 16 year old korean kid. But I did manage to almost finish my cuff for my sock! Behold!


That makes me happy.

So, I'm hitting the gym today after work. I figure I'm rested enough from war now and i need an energizer before the weekend. This week has been hard and a good work out will make things all good. I have lots to do this weekend including another friday night gold leaf session with ari. Though the house needs to be picked up and Estrella needs to be put away from the front room. I can handle some of that when I get home, the rest will be this weekend.