Brought to you by the letters P, M & S...

I've heard you aren't supposed to drink and blog. I think it's probably nota good idea ot blog when you're seriously feeling lousy and PMSing. So not only was I really upset about life, and hitting D's car, my hormones were wreaking their on form of havoc as wellto make it all even
more special.

By the end of the night Friday the day had completly reversed itself. At the end of the business day D got a call about a potentially amazing job. And I went to a hockey playoff game with my dad. I had a great time, got out of the house and just got to relax. Oh, and it was a really fun game as well.

Then Saturday morning, after D told me he'll be able to fix his car himself, it's really not that bad, I went for a long hike to the farm with Ned. He saw his first; cat, goat, sheep, ram, horse and pig. He was terrified. I had to pick him up and carry him, and he was shivering the whole time. We then spent the entire day outside doing yardwork and chores. I painted the garage door. It had never been painted, looked like white trash. Now it looks like a brand new door. Makes the house look so much nicer as you approach it. Today is going to be another beautiful day. We're planning on some garderning, gathering some more rocks, planting the wildfower gardens, and starting to stain the deck. Oh, and I've already been up and made whole grain banana-zuchini nut bread for breakfast! Yes, feeling much better about life this weekend. Friday was just a bad day all around.

Stress

I haven't been sleeping well lately. When I wake up to take Ned out around 3-4 am, I can't get abck to sleep. I've had bad dreams about my brother visit going bad, ticks in my hair, and fucking around with time travel which wasn't cool, it was scary. I've been indredibly stressed lately. My jobs been fine. Busy, but good. But I worry a lot about D's job. I worry a lot about money. I would seriously just once like something to happen to us in the "you've landed on Start, jump 3 places ahead in life and collect ten grand" category. As opposed to constantly being stuck "in Jail forking money over". In the course of this week I've received a $50 gift Cert to get my hair cut, a $15 gift Cert to a restaurant and a t-shirt from an Opera house I did the logo for. So maybe $75 in goods that were all little things that have kept me in a good mood and made me feel, ok, little things like this help. So then yesterday i get a check in the mail for $100. A client I did some freelance for was suppposed to pay me $50, and then actually doubled it when they paid me. I was so happy. I mean it, all I could think of was all the plants and garden crap I could buy. And it was only A HUNDRED DOLLARS. Jesus you'd think someone gave me ten grand. So this morning, leaving home early to avoid traffic on 88 due to construction, I got in the truck, and backed out without looking. My mind actually happily thinking about the plants I would orderd at work online today. When the truck stopped with a crunch as I had backed into the Snaab. I just started bawling. Fucking hell. Why for goddamn once could something happen to us that doesn't mean more money going out? The one godamn thing that is special for him and I go and fucking run into it. Fucked up the entire quarter panel, and the entire headlamp box on that side. Probably a couple hundred dollars easy. I just walked in the house bawling and told him what I'd done. There is still part of me that is scared of things like this because back in my previous life I'd probably have been screamed at and hit. You'd think Id' be over that now. He, being the incredibly sweet kind man he is, just told me it was ok. He can probably fix it himself. He can order the part and hammer it out. I'm just tired of worrying about money, worrying about getting pregnant, worrying about whether or not we can continue to live here, will we have to move, but we love our house, but most days we could give two shits about this place except for a very few people.You see the shit that goes on in places around the world. I drive an SUV to work, have a nice job, great husband, nice house, awesome dog. We do not have it bad in life. So why I am so stressed out all the time? We move to friggin WV to get away from it. I swear we have QUADRUPLED it.

Ned's evening of rock hunting

Last night we headed out the gasline with Ned to hunt for rocks. Yes, this is entertainment at its finest on the ridge-top. Follow along below to see how the evening went....

But I'm helping

This was actually really hard to do. Not just because the rocks were heavy or anything, but becuase someone kept helping, smelling, getting under foot, tuggin on socks, barking at us, etc.

You hold the Pick-Axe like so, Ned

What we do for fun

No really.

Someone was thirsty

He kept trying to get at D's beer. No, we didn't let him, but it's funny that he already takes after D.

Pretty Flower

I took a break to take this photo. (Ok, I used the "taking a photo" excuse several times.) I haven't looked it up yet, so I don't know what it's called yet. But it was very pretty and lots were around.

Down the gasline

Views of the gasline trail we drove out on. Normally we walk this, but last time we went for a walk we noticed lots of lovely rocks and decided to get some for the yard. The gasline rus through our neigborhood, our backyard actually. The gas company keeps in clear and serves as a really nice hiking path. It's a few miles out and back with plenty of breaks in the trees to see the river. What looks like a pile of timbers toward the back of the photo is actually the remains of a concrete structure we think was a gas access.

Funny, I've been wondering something. My great grandpa worked for the gas company down near I think Fulsom and Pine Grove. He had a horse and would go up and down the gas lines checking them. They said when he retired it took several people to replace him. I doubt he came up this far, but it's a neat thought that he might have walked the same ridge as we do now.

Up the gas line

Sunset over the river

You can see the sunsetting over Ohio and the bit of the Ohio River peeking thru the trees.

End of the Line

This is getting to be sunset after we did the last load of rocks.I love this view. It's the end of the gasline. Well, it keeps going, but it's straight down. You can see several ridges over. It's pretty to come out here during each season and see how pretty it is as it changes. At this point we're high enough up to see hawks fly by at the point that would be the center of the photo.

Hangin Out by the Bonfire

D took this pic. Turned out really good. Little man is seriously tuckered out from all the evenings activities, and snuggled up with me by the bonfire.

Bonfire

where the rocks go

Tuesday

Weird Songs in my head today..."65 Love Affair", "Black Hole Sun", "Lost in Emotion (hit the beat now)" what the heck does that mean?

Had weird dreams last night about going to a wedding of a guy I knew from high school. Part of the ceremony was a skit/musical number done by all the guys in this one clique. In my dream D was appalled because the song was distasteful for use in a church. Later at the reception, I was looking around at all these guys, especially the one I dated a bit (now bald, a minister, married with like 5 kids) and then looked at D and thought 'thank god'. Probably brought on by not seeing him for several days. Glad he's home. Missed him.

Looking forward to being home this weekend and doing lots of gardening. I wish I had more time almost as much as I wish I had more money to work on my outdoor projects.

I need to get a pic of our property, I've already missed peak bloom, but it's still pretty.

There is nowhere to eat lunch around here that isn't either complete fast food or a sit-down take more time than I have chain restaurant. There are rumors a Panera is opening. This is the perfect solution for my lunchtime blues. Not totally unhealthy, not pricey, nice atmosphere, close by.

I've been on a big sweet potato crave lately. Not covered with butter and cinnamon sugar, just baked. I had one for lunch yesterday, prob have one today. My body must need some nutrient, or they just really taste good!

Speaking of nutrients, N told me about an article on men's supplements. Now I've got D taking 4 pills every morning. Vit E, C, Folic Acid, and Zinc. And then he takes a multiple. Supposed to give us a nice boost in the swimmers department. We'll see. Still pissed I have to wait til June for our first IUI. My brother and his family will probably be visiting right in the middle of the first one in June. And now I just find out the annual trip to the shore might be in the middle of our timing for August. No sense getting upset about it now. Just wait and see.

Last night was $1 taco night at the Alpha. So we had dinner for $15. Not bad for tacos, soup and beers. These aren't hard tacos, they're soft tacos, chicken, lettuce, fixins, all artfully arranged on a plate. can't believe they're only a dollar. uhh...2 food references in one post. It's 11 am...my belly is already rumbling for lunch.

Speaking of lunch - exciting I know - I'll be spending mine running errands. Including going to the library. Always love that. Free books! Also kinda neat it's the library from my childhood.

that's all for today - nothing more exciting than that

Jam Packed Weekend

The weekend officially got off to a bad start Thursday afternoon of last week. At 2pm my boss announces it's a beautiful day, let's close shop at 3:30! Yay - oh wait...I have an intern interview scheduled for 4pm. Then I had to place orders...so I didn't leave early, I actually left late. Got home, busted thru finishing packing the Rodeo, got on the road by 6:10. Not bad, but it could have been 4pm. Just past Washington Pa, getting ready to turn onto the Exit for Morgantown, D calls. He had gone golfing after work. "So where are you?" he says. " Getting on the exit ramp for Morgantown." I reply. "You're leaving TONIGHT!?! You never told me that!"....apparently even though we'd been talking to each other all week, we hadn't actually been COMMUNICATING. Both our bads. This rarely happens, and I'm going to go ahead and blame it on the rain...huh,huh, no actually blame it on Daylight Savings and all the yard work we've been doing til 8:30 pm each night becuase of it. We went our seperate ways for the weekend, I to DC, he to AC to help "organize" his brother's bachelor party. (apparently the singles need sorting or something)

I had a bad drive into DC. White knuckling it for about 2 hours in a bad thunderstorm. Got in and went to sleep. G & P went to work and daycare, so I ran up to Baltimore to visit K, who I haven't seen since the U2 concert in October. Got to spend the whole afternoon with her. Good to catch up. Got to see her new house, their sailboat, where they live and their new dog. We had lunch at a Vietnamese Noodle Bowl shop. Never had them before. It was good. Very filling, but not a lot of flavor. Even when I added Plum Sauce.That evening got to play with P, give her a bath, put her to bed, and just hangout and relax with G. She's due in 4-6 weeks and doing great, but still, she doesn't need to over do it. We watched "GrizzleyMan" about the idiot who lived with the Grizzlies in Alaska, and was eventually eaten by one. He probably gave the bear diabetese, he was such a FruitLoop. ohh, that was a bit harsh. Movie was worth it just to sit there and yell at the screen, "you are such an idiot". He didn't protect the bears, he probably damaged them by letting them acclimate to humans. Idiot.

Saturday was a busy day. We had "Mommy and Me" tumble time at a gymnatics studio at 8:30 am. I filled in for mommy. I had a blast! P did so well. The kids get to run around and learn balance, coordination, and 'waiting your turn' skills in a really fun way. (G said I was the youngest person there, which means I wouldn't be an Old mommy compared to them, and/or I still look younger than I am) Then we had breakfast at Le Madeline. Scoff, but my $6 quiche pie thing was tasty. Then home for naptime, followed by a walk, then a trip to the kids section of Barnes & Noble so mommy could leisurely enjoy Target for a change. Then off to HomeCheapo for flowers for the yard, and THEN, we drove out to the middle of nowhere Maryland to see my friend's horses. We were all pretty wiped out by the time we got to see the horses, but P loved it. She doesn't seem to be afraid of them. Even T's giant retired racehorse. It was nice to see where the farm was in case I can get back to maybe ride one day. (hint hint) We all just crashed that night and ordered Lebanese take out and we watched "Hustle and Flow". I would have never picked this movie. Ever. It was very entertaining though. Really liked it. It took half-way thru the movie before you got used to the muffled way the main character talked to understand him. He sounded just like Benicio Del Torro's character in "The Usual Suspects".

Sunday morning the Easter Bunny came. Good part - she really enjoyed it. Bad part - the two Peeps she crammed into her mouth wired her up so much she never came down. All day. She'd never really had sugar like that before. I felt bad when I left at 4pm cuz she was still going strong. Got home at 9pm, and hung out with Ned before I passed out. Like I said - Jam Packed Weekend.

Good Books I've Read Lately

Purple Hibiscus
G loaned me this book a few weeks ago. I didn't know what to expect. I really enjoyed this book. Not just because it was well written and an interesting story, I always like reading about how people live in other parts of the world. Reading out the poor and the middle-class in Nigeria was very interesting to me.

From the outside, fifteen-year-old Kambili has the perfect life. She lives in a beautiful house, has a caring family, and attends an exclusive missionary school. She's completely shielded from the troubles of the world. Yet, as Kambili reveals in her tender-voiced account, things are less than perfect in her wealthy Nigerian home. Although her papa is generous and well respected, he is fanatically religious and tyrannical at home. He looms over his family's every move, severely punishes Kambili and her older brother, Jaja, if they're not the best in their classes, and hits their mama if she disagrees with him. Home is silent and suffocating.

Three weeks with my brother
ok - I don't read this guy's books - way to mushy chic-lit for me. The trailers for the movie "Message in a Bottle" made me cringe. But G also handed me this book and said "I know you think you won't like it, but you will, it's also a travel novel". And I did. It was good. His life story has more dramatic, heart breaking things in it than if you tried to make it up. The travel part was the vehicle to tell the story of this family, so not so much a travelogue, but good anyways.

In January 2003, Nicholas Sparks and his brother Micah set off on a three-week trip around the world. It was to mark a milestone in their lives, for at 37 and 38 respectively, they were now the only surviving members of their family. As Nicholas and Micah travel the globe, the intimate story of their family unfolds in the details of the untimely deaths of their parents and only sister. Against the backdrop of the wonders of the world, the Sparks brothers band together to heal, to remember, and to learn to live life to the fullest.

Me Talk Pretty One day
One more time now...G recommeded this book for my selection for Bookclub. She said she laughed her ass off while reading it on the plane. So, as always trusting her knowledge of my taste in books, picked it. It is pretty damn funny. Laughing about things you wouldn't even think of. His sense of humor is just dry, wicked and spot on. I really can't wait to read more of his books, and I haven't even finished this one.

ME TALK PRETTY ONE DAY contains far more than just the funniest collection of autobiographical essays - it quite well registers as a manifesto about language itself. Wherever there's a straight line, you can be sure that Sedaris lurks beneath the text, making it jagged with laughter; and just where the fault lines fall, he sits mischievously perched at the epicenter of it all.

Some Ned to Start Your Weekend With

Hi Ho Chelsea!!

Sunday morning D and I finally drove to Burgettstown to check out N's "farm". 325 acres, a historical farmhouse remodeled with an addition bigger than two of our houses, and a huge stone foundation barn with 5 stalls. I'd been there at night before it was finished, so it was cool to check it out. The water and electric haven't been run yet, but the place is just gorgeous. (We've been told we have our own room for when we visit..even cooler) We took Ned and he ran around the place and went for a long hike to the pond with D while we rode. (also got his first tick)

Well N really wants to get horses, hopefully this summer. She's ridden a lot but never owned, and her neighbor has offerd to help her out. Her neighbor was so incredibly nice. We went over to her farm where she took us out for a trail ride. It was a beautiful day. Probably the best ride I've ever had. Her neighbor was so low-key, just let us ride around. We went all through fields, around ponds and streams, through the woods. The horses we rode were mother, Chelsea (I rode) and JT the son, (N rode) Very well trained, well mannered. Kinda skinny though. The owner has been working at opening a new restaurant and she said she hadn't been getting them extra grain. they both need fattened up.

They were really happy to be out, so I trotted most of the way. Then at one point we entered a field and I could tell Chelsea wanted to go, so I let her and we cantered for a good while ahead of the others. I could hear N's neighbor calling " you ok?" Heck yeah - that was awesome! My form absolutely sucks. I know what I'm supposed to do, but since I don't ride often, I just fall apart sloppy. I was lucky she was a good horse. This was so much fun and enjoyable. It makes me realize even more how nervous and self-conscious those cows from the stable I volunteered at last year made me feel.

The thought of N getting horses and being able to ride when I want sounds so good. Of course that could be held off if I get in a certain way, no riding then, but I'll enjoy when I can until then.

Oh, and now is when I should mention how sore I am.

Julie Zickfoose

While I was googling to see if there were any garden clubs in our area, I found a link to this woman's website. I really like her blog which I've added to my list. She doesn't live near us, but she lives SouthEastern Ohio. The ecology/biology where she lives is just like ours. I love reading about her experiences out in Nature. I'd love to do what she does for a living - paint and write about the natural world. Plus on her blog she writes about her funny Boston Terrier. My parent's have one as well who is just as funny.

Movies and TV

Family Guy

I had no idea how many people in the television industry hated "The Family Guy". D and I have always liked it and thought it was pretty damn funny. But D found this article, which leads to this article. I tried to stay awake to watch the South Park where they bashed FG, but I fell asleep. It seemed kinda boring, but it's a two-parter. I have a chance to catch the end. I don't know though... I love South Park, and I can see where they're coming from. Especially if things like Stewie are blatantly stolen ideas...but this all can kind of sound like they are just whining because another adult cartoon is getting some attention. Yes, most of SP has a point to it, but sometimes it does just ramble on, like the weeks there wasn't a national/international incident to spoof on. And to be honest, I don't give two shits. I'll watch both and laugh.

BTW - I didn't realize Wikipedia was so full of detailed info on everything.

X-Men A Final Stand
The other day I was watching TV and out of nowhere the Trailer for the next X Movie came on. I've been too busy at work to keep up with movie trailers like I could when surfing could be called "research". So I hadn't even heard these were out. I'm sure it's on Apple, but here's a link at IMBD for the two new trailers. I'm not a comic geek, so I no, I don't know the character minutia details, or backstories, I'm only in it for the movies. Which I really dig for some reason. Most likely because Wolverine is a hotty. (but ever notice how Hugh Jackman isn't? when you see him without the facial hair, he's goofy lookin) Well, and truth be told, I've always had a thing for Jean-Luc.


LOST
The shows been so good lately I dread the upcoming season finale. There's a ton of LOST refernce sites out there, so I won't bother listing any, but here's the site I reference the most after watching a show. Again, I've been too busy this week to read up on this Wed episode. It was good, but even though they concentrated on Hurley, I can't wait til they get Gale to open up more. Let Sayid finsih torturing his ass. Next week is Rose and Bernhard's backstory..that should be intersting.

Critters:

Here's what we've seen lately around the property:
• the Donkeys were out this morning, the time change must have urged their walk-about instincts on
• another huge flock of turkeys, this time a bunch of the tom's were all puffed up and plummed out
• during a 6am Ned peepee outing, I heard what I thought were cat's fighting..I looked up into this tree to see two racoons having a domestic dispute. Apparently she was kicking him out of the tree hollow/den. This was funny til I realized how close this den is to the house and garden. Looks like we'll be setting the trap out soon. But then I'll worry she has babies, what if we trap her and the babies die...hard to be a tenderheart and a trapper at the same time.

Spring Forward

Saturday night we sprang forward. I love having more sunlight in the evening. It's like having an entire second day once you get home from work. Last night I took at least a mile long hike thru the woods with Ned. We started around 7 and didn't get back til almost 8:30, and there was still a bit of light left. We walked all around the riverside edge of our ridge.

Garden Maintenance

After our guests left Sunday I was wiped out. I just wanted to veg on the couch. But after D got a second wind and headed outside to do yard work, I figure I should too. I got a lot done. Esp. now that the I had more daylight to work with. I mended the fence, re-stapled and fixed holes in it. I started the initial path and did some weeding. It was a small effort but got me back into the groove. I'm starting to try and figure out how to plot out this year's garden. It will be different without the corn taking up so much space.

I went to the library this week and got out a bunch of books on gardening. I found so much good info I've got to figure out a way to organize it all and use it correctly. My biggest concern this year is pest control!!

Friends visit

Our friends from DC came in last weekend with their little girl. We had a good visit. We didn't do a whole lot, but just relaxing and hanging out together is always a good thing with these guys. Their little girl and Ned - well, they got along ok. Ned was at her constantly, and she quickly learned to tell him "no!" At one point she started to cry...he had her by the butt of her pants pulling her backward. Another time poor thing was doing the open-mouth-no-sound-yet scream because he had her hand in his mouth and was tuggin on it pretty hard. They wiped each other out playing.

Saturday afternoon G and I took P to the playground. We do have nice playgrounds around here. We were there for a bit when a van pulls up and a whole troop of 14-16 year old girls roll out with their baby strollers. Nice. We had on jackets and they all had t-shirts on. They then commenced to swing on the sets and do down the slides. Basically "play" like the kids they are. The girls were from the local Home for Unwed/Teen Mothers. Not Fing fair. I can't wait til later in life I find out why this is happening to me. Anyways, we then went to lunch at a local establishment/tradition. Coleman's Fish Market in Center Market. The market used to be a real market, actually even a slave market at one point. As a kid my mom and grandma took me there to get our produce, egss, cheese, etc. A big long covered, open-air market with tons of stalls and everything you could imagine being sold. No it's covered, and it's not as busy as it used to be. Only a few vendors now, and an artists market of sorts. But they still have Coleman's Fish. The sandwich's there are great. A huge portion of white fish, between two slices of soggy white wonder bread. It doesn't sound it, but it's delicious.

We had my parent's up for dinner with everyone Sat night. I don't know what happens, but everytime I have them up for dinner, I get everything ready, say dinner is a say 5, and we don't eat for 2 hours. I need to work on getting everything timed out better. Then we just stayed up and talked, and our friends left around