I think today is making up for this weekend.

I would really like to rip my hair out this morning. (But luckily it's not for the same reasons Lizzy is going through) Sometime over the weekend the date and time application on our servers at work reset themselves to June 18, 2003 and 12:00pm. The servers resync with our computers every 20 minutes or so. This alone is amazingly annoying because no only do dates auto-populate and then you have to go manually fix every one of them. Also it tells you every time you update or open a new screen that the certificate isn't valid and your computer is afraid for it's life. (enter at least two more clicks and some waiting while your computer thinks about letting you take the action against it's better judgement) Now imagine working on three days of census information (aka everything that happens for a 24 hour period) that takes at best an hour and at worst at least 2 (this was more of a 2 hour day this morning) and adding in these frustrations. Now also add in everyone coming to you to fix their issues with this mess (because apparently I'm some sort of computer guru). It's a miracle I got it all done on time, which I did, but barely.

So apparently this tells me I had too much fun this weekend. Because otherwise I don't think that my morning would be so crappy.

I went over and hung out with Mel and her babies this weekend. One of my favorite parts was when Keller introduced me to his dad. Apparently we hadn't been properly introduced until this weekend? How gauche of me. But then he also told his dad to make sure to not crash into my car, and he told me to make sure I didn't crash into any houses. OMG, this kid cracks me up all the time. Mel and I were laughing so hard we were actually crying, Keller apparently thought this was status quo. So maybe it is? Because later I was trying to convince Keller that Mel and I were going to stay home and take naps and that he was going to take his little sister Finley garage saleing. Unfortunately he didn't buy it.

Mel and Josh have a huge selection of games and we always (okay fine, usually) play at least one game when I come over. This time we played Shadows over Camelot which is an incredibly hard game. And we beat it soundly, (okay fine, you've got me again, we might have given it a tweak here and there but we beat it nonetheless) barely, but soundly. We actually thought it was going to defeat us (you play as a collaboration against the board) but we were just reading the rule wrong (I swear that's the truth that time). And then we went to bed way too late but Finley sleeps through the night now so that helped.

I know I'm not ending this smoothly or with panache but there you have it. I just did errands yesterday and cleaning. I know you don't want to hear about it. :)

This weekend.

So this weekend it all started when I was getting ready to pick up Isaac from the airport. As I was walking through the house making sure I had everything I needed, I spotted them. The wooden coins that I've been saving for the Proctor Farmers Market for when August came around and I made a special trip to the Proctor Arts Fest in Tacoma. I quickly and silently panicked inside "Oh #$&^%, when is Proctor? Wait, it's August, did I miss it? Oh, good! It's the first weekend. The frickin' thing is TODAY." So it all seemed rather fortuitous to me. Because I was still planning to go this year but Isaac coming home totally threw me off. I was really looking forward to going but hoping he could come with me, it happened by luck of the draw. So when I picked him up from the airport I gleefully told him Proctor was today and we were going. I love this festival and we've been vendors the past four years to this thing. There's no way we couldn't go.

 But first Isaac requested breakfast in La Conner at The Calico Cupboard. One of our favorites. (These two places are in completely different directions, as in hours apart.) We had all day and no other commitments to keep and so we went. I love driving past all the farms and so below are pictures of cabbages that I had to stop and photograph. I think they're lovely.

And then we drove to Proctor and walked around stopping frequently talking to other friends that we had there that were vendors. I didn't take any pictures of it. I have in the past so here are those photos. It really hasn't changed and that's part of it's charm.

To finish out the day we went to sushi which made Isaac (and I) very happy. We loves us some sushi. By the time we got home we were exhausted. Especially Isaac as he was still three hours ahead. We sat on the couch until we started to fall asleep (party animals I know) which was about 15 minutes later.

Sunday we went to La Conner again (the boy was jonesing what can I tell you). And then on a whim we took the ferry to Orcas Island. I had been toying with the idea anyway and I knew I wanted to go to the San Juans before I left for NJ so being able to take Isaac was the cherry on top. It was especially awesome as he has never been and he's wanted to go.

We drove the island and went to the top of Mount Constitution. Since I'd been for a week with a friend's family in high school I wanted to revisit some of the places I had been long ago (you know, because I'm so old). And one of the places I loved was the Olga General Store which is now sadly closed. We would walk down most mornings and get their scones with berry butter. So yummy. I took my own picture but for some reason it didn't upload so I'll load it tonight. Below are pictures from the island.

At the Anacortes Ferry dock waiting to go to Orcas Island.

On the Ferry.

In town.

On top of Mount Constitution.

This really is phoning it in...

So I have some great photos that I took this weekend and I even uploaded them to my home computer but I forgot to start a post and add the post to blogger (doh). So I'll just say this, this weekend was fun, a lot of fun. (I promise a post either tonight or tomorrow morning when I actually get my act together.) But I'm pretty sure we over did it as we literally were only at home both days when it was time to go to bed.

I'm exhausted. Not to mention I have an earache that started to develop on Saturday and I only finally did something about it this morning when the pain got too bad. The good thing is that earaches aren't contagious, they go away quickly, and this one is due to allergies so I'm not sick just in pain. (Apparently I'm a guy when it comes to my own healthcare) It's better now but I'm kinda loopy today (due to exhaustion not the earache) and Isaac has my car because we didn't look into renting him a car until yesterday and most places are closed Sunday and all of this is a moot point because we didn't get home until at least 9 pm last night. Am I rambling? I'm pretty sure I am. Blame the tiredness.

Where was I? Oh yeah Isaac has my car so I might have to work late. Here's to hoping that I don't fall asleep until I go to bed tonight.

P.S. I got a tan! Which for me means two shades of porcelain. This is radical.

Tomorrow

So I got a surprise this morning. Isaac called to tell me he's coming home this weekend on business.

And I have to admit that I didn't really realize how much I missed him until he said those words. Work has been stressful lately (that's another story for another time) and being alone during the week may be making my emotions fragile (and I kinda broke down last night but that's also another story for another time, completely unrelated and probably not wholly warranted).

It will be really good to see him.

And I may have bought another copy of Mat Kearney's album Young Love from Best Buy because it had three bonus songs you couldn't get anywhere else. (I may be contemplating buying the album a third time from his website because there's one more bonus song that you can only get there. Maybe.) I get insanely happy about his music and his albums. He's one of my absolute favorite artists and when I find out he's releasing a new album it feels like Christmas morning when I'm finally able to get my hands on it. And yes I love his music so much I want every single song he releases. His upbeat songs are so infectious and his slower songs hit home and literally give me chills. (Maybe because he's a fellow Sag? Possibly.)

So look forward to pictures tomorrow. Not really sure what we're going to do as this trip is completely impromptu. I have a few ideas but it will just be nice to see him and have someone to touch. I think we forget how essential touch is to the human condition and without a partner you really don't get much. (Get your minds out of the gutter.) I think I subconsciously go stir crazy without it and don't realize how much it affects me until it's on the horizon.

See ya on the flip side.

Stuff you haven't seen (and some you have...)

 So I'm going to start with jumping around a little and then get on to photos from the weekend. More zoo, but I promise the next two weekends will be of other stuff as long as everything goes according to plan. 

Apparently yesterday the house directly across the street from me was broken into. This makes me a little more nervous because it's just me alone. But they broke into a home that has two parents and two small kids so I don't necessarily think that having Isaac around would make it less likely for them to break in. We do have a Brinks system installed, (not hooked up but I'm now thinking about it before I go) hopefully that will deter them? 

I'm trying to resign myself to this news because worrying won't help it and if they do break in (knock on wood) unless they're ready to take furniture I don't have a lot that's amazingly valuable. So let's hope this problem goes away. (I told you I live in the ghetto) I did bring my computer and camera to work with me today. I'm really only worried about the cats otherwise. But it would suck to lose the furniture cause I love it and I bought nice pieces knowing they'd last.

*Update*

Okay so I know I said I wouldn't worry but the panic is starting to set in. All I can think of right now is all the stuff I have at home that is vulnerable and I forgot about until just now. I'm trying to remain calm and hoping that the next four hours go by fast...

Oh and I'm super excited besides the fact because Mat Kearney's album came out today and I love Mat Kearney.

So here as mentioned above are more zoo photos. I tried to make up for the phone camera which is why you're seeing some stuff from last week. And it rained at the zoo while I was there so I got some cool foliage shots at the end. (It is fall right? :P)

Flamingos.

That red panda really needs to get out of the tree. It's like it knows I'm trying to photograph it and wants to thwart my every attempt. Fine red panda, it's on. I'm going to get a good photo of you if it kills me.

They also have a Pudu in an adjoining exhibit which I can never get a picture of. I will get a picture of it, if it, um, kills me...

Cranes.

Reeds in the duck marsh.

Bird.

Another bird.

I know, it's another one.

OMG, I love these. They're miniature panda cows. This is the closest I could get to them with the zoom. They always put them in the farthest pen.

An African Oryx... I think, yes I'm devolving but I already did that above.

Oh, oh I know this one! Hippos!

Asian Elephants. *rubs knuckles on shirt* I know I'm awesome. Also the elephant danced for us. It was so cute.

This is a tree shrew and I only remember that because it was doing back flips over and over again. This is the position it gets in before flipping.

Okay so the is the only Komodo  Dragon picture that loaded and it's the statue outside the exhibit. I actually got really good photos of the two Komodo's that the zoo has. :(

Grizzly Bear. Better photo.

Sea otter. I love this photo.

Okay fine, I'll let you see the whole sea otter.


And these below are just pictures of foliage at the zoo I took a liking too. Enjoy.

Sometimes You Are Just Silly....... or Stupid

This weekend was a blast (more on that later.... maybe) but I have encountered an issue..... my feet go numb when I ride. This is a new thing and didn't have it when I road when I was younger. So Sunday it got to me pretty bad and this morning, I called my local bike shop, talked with the guy who fitted me for a bike and he told me to come on in. So I got off work a little early, changed clothes and as I was grabbing my water from the cooler, I hear a loud thunder like sound. They are doing construction here so perhaps it was that. Maybe not.

But who the hell cares? I am going for a ride to the bike shop and solve the issue.

As I rode out, it started to POUR. Then the thunder and lightning. Then the hail and me?.... I just riding. I live on a strip of road called Highway 70.... and there is a reason who one no rides on the road there. Its dangerous. I pulled over twice to take cover but I was already soaked so ride on it was.

Finally made it to the bike shop and they thought I was crazy. I couldn't argue the point but I must say, it reminded me of when I was younger. It was so much fun to ride in the rain, get nailed by the hail and get soaked. Something youthful about that.

Got the issue fixed, walked out still soaked, back on the bike and time to ride more. This time.... hail, rain, thunder, lightening and wind. Good ride home..... lovely weather (it was warm) and good exercise.

Here is a little pic of this weekend at my first bike race.

And here is another picture. After the race we did a 2 mile bike ride in PA which was great and of course..... a wonderful milkshake afterwards! :)

This might require surgery...

Because I honestly feel like I've tried just about everything.

No nothing's wrong and if you saw me you wouldn't even know what I was talking about until the intermittent hacking started.

I have major sinus issues. This is something I deal with every day all day and I can't remember a day that I haven't blown my nose or hacked up some sort of mucus (sorry, I know it's gross).

I'm pinning my hopes on moving back to the East Coast because growing up out there I had no such issues. But maybe God just doesn't punish children with major sinus issues (okay, I know he does, but still). And even when I first moved out here I just had the occasional allergy but obviously it's built itself up. (Hm, maybe the East Coast won't help?)

I used to only use benadryl sparingly if I had trouble getting to sleep (I never have trouble getting to sleep and I sleep like a rock). But then I started using it for allergies until I noticed how tired it made me (please see the sleep aid part). So then I moved on to a variety of things including Claritin, Zytrec, and Allegra (I carry all three in my purse at all times). I'm currently on this today and it's still not helping:

And I know it doesn't help but I still hope? Every time.

I've seen an Internist and I've also added a Neti Pot, and coconut water into the mix hoping they'll help. And they do somewhat, for brief amounts of time. But honestly I should just be on the stuff shown about and that should dry out my sinuses right? Wrong.

I'm still clearing out my nose and throat but more gradually when I'm on this stuff because all that most of this stuff does (minus the Neti Pot and coconut water) is keep it stuffed up in my nasal cavity. And then I get a wicked headache if I don't clear it out just right, or it doesn't cooperate with coming out.

This is a Neti Pot.

And this is the coconut water I buy, just in case this is all caused by not enough hydration.

I think I'll wait until I get to the East Coast to think about surgery but I think about this stuff so much all day because it's so bothersome.

Honestly, I really want one of these because I think it would save the sore throat from all the hacking.

Thoughts?