the pure interest

This is an old picture I took of cherry trees a few years ago (surprise, right?). It’s peaceful to me.

In June, I actually have some “profit” from freelancing, and I was deciding between a Wacom tablet or the new Microsoft Office 2008 for the Mac. After reading some not-very-good reviews on Office 08, I decided on the tablet. I ordered from Amazon one that had decent reviews, was medium sized, and not ridiculously costly - so I am excited to work with it. It’s supposed to be here today! I hope I can do some new types of illustration and it gives me some more freedom I’ve been looking for.

I went roller blading by myself last night, and it was ok. The only things I hate about blading/walking at the penninsula are the clouds of gnats. I had to have breathed some in because I would notice I was plowing into them way too late! I did 6 miles in 45 minutes, which meant I was going relatively fast. When I sat down in the car I wasn’t sure if I could get my blades off I was so exhausted . . . but somehow managed to. Then, I went home, had some veggies for dinner, and did “3T - Totally Tubular Turbo” . . . yeah, sounds cheesy but it’s a great workout using resistance tubing for weight/strength training. About 30 minutes after being done, I noticed I was having trouble lifting my limbs and walking up the stairs. I guess it can truly be said that I beat myself with working out yesterday! But I needed it so I am glad!!

This was mainly to make up for the fact I went to Olive Garden yesterday with my sis and my hubs and had the new Chicken Milanese. I did give about half to Bri and Amy, so that was good. But it was unbelievable. Worth every calorie, bite, and bloated feeling afterwards.

Also LOST last night? Wow. Some questions got answered, which was crazy, but somehow I have a really hard time putting it all together still. I depend on the short reviews for stupid people so I can sort of get a handle on what I saw!

Tonight we have small group which is always a pleasure, and I think some new folks will be joining, so I am excited about that! Brian and I also need to find an air conditioner this weekend, which needs to be a priority, and I am searching flyers for the best deals.

Oh and update: I have no accent, because Erie is awesome:

Have a happy Friday everyone!

Disclaimers:
Now before I write this, and it’s unfortunate that I have to do this, but I do, this post does not mean that I am

a) Pregnant
b) Trying to get pregnant
c) Fighting with my husband about becoming pregnant

And it does not mean that you should

a) Torture my husband by telling him “oooooooh, did you see what your wife posted today???”
b) Nudge me or my husband and say “come on, so, how long have you been married now? 4 years? It’s about time isn’t it??”
c) Tell my husband that his wife’s biological clock is ticking and he better get that sucker in check
d) Otherwise torture us in any way :

Ok, now with those formalities over… we had a volunteer appreciation dinner at church last night called “Sweets & Sounds…” and the staff walked around with trays of goodies and sweet delights, and there was even chocolate fondue fountain! It was truly a wonderful night. They gave us a really beautiful thank you and there was some awesome prayer time, and some funny “stand-up” by Jason. But, selfishly, the highlight of the night for me was getting to sit next to his wife, Diane, who is 5 weeks from her due date, and who is not squeamish at all about having people she loves touch her belly. She was able to show me what a contraction felt like (hard and tight at the top area), and I felt the baby move when Brian started playing guitar (a proud moment for me!!). She showed me where her little bottom was resting as well. This baby, McKenzie, as you can read on Diane’s blog, was in some danger at the beginning of the month, and they are still watching her for an irregular heart beat and some other problems, but she is still kicking away in there. As Diane sat there, with her arms around her belly, holding that baby that is so close yet so far from this life right now… I was struck.

It was fascinating, thrilling, beautiful, wistful, incredible, scary, fragile and surreal. To be that close… the baby just under there… I am astonished at it all.

I also know four-five other INCREDIBLE women who are pregnant right now, some dealing with struggles of loss from previous pregnancies, and I am just stunned by how incredible this gift is, and yet how so many perfect little things have to join together and go together and work together in order for this miracle to take place. In some ways, it makes me want it so badly I can almost taste it and feel it… but in others I am thankful just to be part of people’s lives who are expecting, adopting, caring for these beautiful babies, and just live it through them for now. It is definitely a desire, and I feel that in a marriage both people will know and feel when the time is right, or God will intervene and make it happen anyway

Thanks for letting me have a female/spiritual/life/biological/mothering moment.

Zelda enjoyed the beautiful sunshine yesterday. She’s taken to a new spot lodged between a window and the armoire. I think she likes it because Tycho is pretty unable to get to her there, and she has the wonderful sunshine warming her. She cozies up in there.

And here are my two favorite photos/things from Niagara-On-The-Lake. Rest of the pics will come sometime this week! The tulips were unreal. So straight, so colorful, so organized. People were all over stopping to take pictures of them. This picture in particular exposed my butt to the entire street, but it was worth it

This was my favorite chair at the cottage. I never actually sat in it… but it was just, so beautiful, antique, perfect.

Plans are food at my parents tonight, and I plan on making an amazing fruit salad. Also we have an “Ultimate Chocolate Cake” from Wegmans. What are you up to? 

Look at that little guy!!!! Source.

Frutiger is one of my all-time favorite sans-serifs (as fore-mentioned). Now there is a newly released serif version, in honor of the creators birthday!! Too bad it’s thousands. I’d love to have it. Anyone want to gift it to me?

A few pics from Niagara on the Lake to come next week. It was really beautiful, although flipping freezing most of our trip. Mainly I took pictures of food and flowers, and mainly pastries, and mainly tulips. It’s a tulip-pa-looza there!! Also be on the lookout on Danielle’s blog for some soon-to-come beautiful photos!

I also just received this sad news about Steven Curtis Chapman, beloved and long-time Christian music artist. His 5-year-old daughter was struck and killed in a car accident. That is so sad. Please pray for the family.

I know, baby pink is similar to magenta. But, you have to admit, pinks and purples are sort of dominant right now, especially in spring in the NorthEastern part of the country!

I don’t have much else to say except, HOLY CRAP ON THE OFFICE LAST NIGHT, I screamed a lot (sorry friends), and YAY FOR SUNDAY!!!!

This might be my favorite flower photo I’ve ever taken…

Not much else to say today except

1. Download this if you like photoshop and use it ever, mainly for web design (although i’m sure i’d be helpful for anyone)
2. I’m eating way too much chocolate chip banana bread! I also now have a huge box of cookies from a party last night and box of cheez it party mix. (which is amazing by the way) I’m taking that all today to work hoping my colleagues will help me diminish it.
3. Financial/vacation/family segment: We got a generous offer from my in-laws last night about a trip to Myrtle Beach this summer. We’ve been trying to say no to basically any vacation plans for this year, as money is very tight and we wanted to save that potential money for this crucial year on our student loan pay-off. But they called and said that if budget is what is keeping us from going to Myrtle Beach with them, we can drive down to Maryland (which we were going to do anyway), then they will take us the rest of the way and pay for our expenses. We are so overwhelmed by their generosity… and of course we had to accept and will try to set aside some expense money for ourselves - so that will be the first week of July, and I am so excited. One thing that’s hard about being on a strict budget and letting your family know about it, is that people offer to do a lot for you sometimes, which can be so amazing and I am so grateful, but also makes us feel very guilty - because that is not our intention (to be mooches). Family and friends reactions to debt/money decisions are the toughest sometimes to gauge, especially when people are in different places in their lives with how they spend money, etc., priorities they put on travel and vacations and the like. We are just trying to say no and make some sacrifices, but somehow people keep coming through so we don’t have to make quite so many. Dave Ramsey would probably not be happy with us.
4. Still most excite about Niagara on Sunday… EEEEEeeeeee!!!!